REPORT - CITY DVP 3-1 BRENTFORD

A Rudy Gestede brace helped return Kevin Cooper's Development side back to winning ways as they secured a 3-1 win over Brentford at Cardiff City Stadium.

Rhys Healey grabbed the other for his fifth goal in five games as City grabbed their fourth league win of the season so far; a Luke Norris penalty in the second half to level at that stage proved to be mere consolation for the visitors. 

A bright start from City's Development side well and truly showed their desire to put last week's defeat to Queens Park Rangers behind them; they had the ball in the net with less than ten minutes gone only to see it ruled out for a foul on Bees stopper Bonham.

Striker Gestede was next to see his header fly just inches over the crossbar before Filip Kiss blazed his shot over the bar soon after. The best chance for the visitors came 35 minutes in, Luke Norris hitting his volley just wide of former Bees man Simon Moore's goal. 

With less than five minutes to go in the first-half Kevin Cooper's men were ahead. Some lovely build-up saw Healey head the ball down for the on-rushing Gestede who calmly controlled and slotted home past Brentford stopper Bonham to give City the lead going into the break.

HALF TIME: Cardiff City DVP 1-0 Brentford U-21s

Just the one change at the break saw the visitors introduce Keiron Morris to proceedings in place of Alfie Mawson, but it was the Bluebirds who remained on top. They almost doubled their lead as Kane Owen's cross quickly drifted towards goal, clipping the crossbar as Bonham struggled to retreat back to his line.

As City continued to search for the all important second goal to kill off the tie, the visitors took the opportunity to draw themselves level as Norris went down under the challenge of Jaye Bowen in the area, before slotting home the penalty to draw the Bees level.

The young Bluebirds were not to held for long however, Healey racing on to a lovely through ball from Gestede to fire past Bonham from close range and restore City's advantage.

There looked to be little chance of a comeback from the plucky Bees this time as Gestede made sure of the victory three minutes before time and grabbed his second, tapping home the rebound from Bonham's initial outstanding save to deny Healey.

FULL TIME: Cardiff City DVP 3-1 Brentford U-21s

Teams - Cardiff City DVP: Moore, Connolly, Owen, Kiss (Hawkins 89), Amondarain, Oshilaja ©, Bowen, Wharton, Healey, Gestede, Harris. Subs not used:  Williams, Massaro, Bell, Southam. 

GOALS: Gestede (41, 87), Healey (73)

Brentford: Bonham, Pilbeam (Moore 65), Barron, Reeves, Pierre ©, Mawson (Morris 45), Clarke, Miller-Rooney, Norris, El Alagui, Adams. Subs not used: Bryan, Minter, Maloney.

GOALS: Norris (70)