Blackman strike seals excellent victory

Last updated : 16 July 2003 By

Blackman:
Great goal
A stunning goal from 19-year-old substitute, Lloyd Blackman, secured a welcome win for Brentford in their opening pre-season fixture against Reading last night.

On a tremendously hot, humid evening, it was the visitors who started the brighter and were two goals up inside the first ten minutes, courtesy of strikes from debutant big money signing, Scott Murray, and lively forward Nathan Tyson.

However, the Bees regrouped and gradually forced their way back into the contest, halving the arrears midway through the first half when former Southampton forward, Mark Peters, netted with a powerful shot from the edge of the area that fairly whistled into the top right hand corner of the visitors' net.

Thereafter, Wally Downes' side achieved a modicum of control and drew level twelve minutes later, Jay Tabb outpacing the Royals' static defence, before finishing neatly past the Berkshire club's custodian, Jamie Ashdown.

Unsurprisingly, given the sweltering conditions, both managers used the second half more as an exercise to give a number of their first team squad a welcome run out, and indeed it was two of Downes' changes who conspired to earn Brentford the victory.

Trialist, Paul Buckley, who had replaced midfielder Jay Smith moments earlier, fed fellow substitute Blackman, and the youngster unleashed a venomous shot that left Ashdown in the Reading goal helpless.

So an encouraging evening for all concerned at Griffin Park and it is to be hoped that this result is a prelude to further success in the coming weeks and months.

Brentford Line-up:

Smith (P), Dobson (Allen-Page, 78), Somner (Thomas, 79), Roget, Sonko (Traynor, 71), Tabb (Hutchinson, 60), Smith (J) (Buckley, 78), Peters (Fieldwick, 71), Frampton, Evans (Hunt, 60) and O'Connor (Blackman, 71
).

Goals:

Peters (22)
Tabb (33)
Blackman (83)

Att: 1, 594