Brentford B thrash Bournemouth U-21 as the Gtech Community Stadium remembers Robert Rowan

Brentford emerged 6-2 victors at the Gtech Community stadium in the second edition of the annual Robert Rowan Invitational.

The game was played in honour of Brentford’s former technical director, who passed away at the age of 28 due to an undiagnosed heart condition in 2018.

Rowan’s instrumental role in founding Brentford B was recognised ahead of the tie, with Brentford B manager Neil Macfarlane saying “Robert’s influence on the B Team remains profound. Upholding the values he instilled in the project and honouring his legacy with our actions remains important to us all.”

All proceeds from the match went towards Heart of West London, a partnership of charities and organisations that raise awareness around cardiac health and conduct vital research, meaning it was a triumph off the pitch as well as on it.

Brentford took the lead through Daniel Oyegoke, but a double from Daniel Adu-Adjei left them trailing at the break.

Mukhammadali Urinboev restored parity midway through the second-half and the Bees capitalised on their momentum – Ryan Trevitt adding a third shortly after.

A flurry of late goals punctuated the Bees’ victory, with Trevitt adding another from the spot and Max Dickov finishing coolly soon after. Ethan Laidlaw’s superb curling effort then put the cherry on Brentford’s cake in stoppage time cementing them as runaway winners.

The home side made a strong start, forging some half-chances through quality deliveries from Romeo Beckham and Tony Yogane.

The breakthrough came 26 minutes in through defender Daniel Oyegoke, who showed a striker’s touch to turn and finish on his weaker left foot after the ball was knocked down from a cross.

But Bournemouth soon replied with a Daniel of their own, Adu-Adjei finding the far bottom corner of Hákon Valdimarrson’s goal with a tidy finish.

The visitors then took the lead on the cusp of the half-time, with Adu-Adjei latching on to Kian Tydeman’s through-ball and firing in at the near post for his second.

After an uninspired start to the second half, the 63^rd minute introduction of Bournemouth’s unnamed enigma ‘The Trialist’ brought some excitement to the crowd.

They had even more to cheer about minutes later when Bournemouth failed to clear Ethan Brierley’s cross and Urinboev stroked the ball into the bottom corner to level the scores.

And the Bees stormed on to take the lead nine minutes later through Trevitt, who arrived in the right-hand side of the box and fired across goal for the lead.

Brentford then sealed the win with an 88^th minute penalty, Trevitt hopping and converting after Oyegoke was fouled in the box.

A Brentford fifth arrived in the 90^th minute, Dickov making the most of a misplaced back pass from Bournemouth’s Archie Harris.

There was little Bournemouth’s defence could do to prevent what followed in stoppage time, with Laidlaw placing a stunning strike from outside the box into the top right corner of Billy Terrell’s goal.

Player of the match: Daniel Oyegoke