Bees 2 Port Vale 0

---

Brentford stay top of the league!

Brentford put in another quality performance keeping them top of the league.

With a slightly changed side from the one we've recently become accustomed to Brentford continued to play flowing, high tempo football to please the home fans and earn another three points.

Karleigh Osborne replaced the rested Philips and Marvin Williams replaced Adam Newton.

The bees had the first 30 minutes in the bag but unfortunately not the ball [in the bag] - Oh do be quiet! We were awarded a penalty after 6 minutes but Charlie MacDonald's kick was saved by the keeper low to his right. He said later "I thought I struck the penalty OK. The goalkeeper has gone early and made a good save". Keeping an eye on Karleigh to see how he was doing he was very solid at Centre Half, his distribution seems to have improved too with a lovely ball out to Williams being the highlight.

Around the 30 minute mark Port Vale started to get back in the game but managed only one attempt at the bees goal, a good long range shot which Hamer managed to get to and hold.

The breakthrough came in first half injury time when Karleigh rose like a salmon to head in from a Superkev corner.

The second half was all Brentford, with terrific performances all round. Bean was replaced by Hunt on 83 minutes and with Hunt's greater willingness to join the attack burst into the box, declined a shot and pulled the ball back to the waiting MacDonald to fire the ball home for the Bees second. Game over.

Vale fan Robbie Williams was at the game and spotted leaving when still one-nil down.

Brentford: Hamer; Halls, Bennett, Osborne, Dickson; Williams (sub Newton 88 mins), O'Connor, Bean (sub Hunt 83 mins), Wood; MacDonald, Rhodes (sub Elder 90 mins)

Subs (not used): Poole, Johnson

This was also the last home game for Jon Gosling as Supporter Director but he happily stays with us as Associate Director. Many congratulations!

Thanks to beesotted for the match report

February 15, 2009