A sensational hat-trick from trialist, Tawanda Maswanhise saw a young County side come from behind twice to claim a credible 3-3 draw against Brentford B at Edgeley Park on Tuesday night.
Both sides exchanged the lead in an end-to-end first half, with Maswanhise firing County ahead after just two minutes before the Bees hit back with two well-worked goals from Iwan Morgan and Ryan Trevitt. Another well-taken goal from Maswanhise, however, sent the two sides in level at the break.
The Premier League B side upped the tempo after the break, retaking the lead through Kyreece Lisbie before missing a number of golden opportunities to extend the lead. They were made to rue those missed chances in stoppage time, as Maswanhise broke clear to seal his hat-trick at the Cheadle End.
With the first-team still celebrating last week’s League Two title victory, it was a young Hatters side to take on the Londoners, with Cody Johnson and Ashton Mee the only two players involved to have featured in the league for the first team.
Scott Maloney started in goal, behind a back three of Luke Partington, Ethan Mann and Rhys Watson. Jid Okeke and Joe Hillary proved the width at wing-back, either side of Cody Johnson, Callum West and the advanced Ashton Mee in the middle of the park. Up front, Maswanhise was partnered by Vanlyson Silva.
People had barely settled into their seats before already celebrating County being a goal up – the ball breaking loose to Maswanhise around 25 yards from goal, with the youngster showing a great burst of acceleration to get into the box before coolly slotting it past the onrushing goalkeeper whilst under pressure from the defender.
The forward even had the chance for another just a few minutes later, latching on to Ashton Mee’s lofted ball over the top but seeing his effort across goal held by goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe.
The visitors punished that miss, going straight up the other end to equalise. Riley Owen’s ball over the top found the angled run of Morgan, and his powerful strike found its way past Maloney at the near post.
The Bees were dealt a blow on 17 minutes, with goalkeeper Balcombe picking up an injury – his place was taken by Vincent Angelini.
Just five minutes later though, the away side were ahead. A flowing move down the right-hand side led to Benjamin Frederick pulling back to captain Trevitt, who swept home emphatically from close range.
The game became stretched at this point, Partington hooking an effort over the bar after good work down the right from Okeke, whilst at the other end Trevitt skimmed the top of the crossbar with a dipping effort from long range.
Maswanhise came close again when testing Angelini from range, and with ten minutes to go until the break the forward eventually did grab his second. Luke Partington drove forward with the ball before feeding it to the right for Maswanhise, who arrowed an effort across the goalkeeper and in at the far post to drag County level again.
Morgan and Trevitt both missed good chances to restore Brentford’s lead before the break but were off target, sending the sides in at 2-2.
Half-Time: County B 2 (Maswanhise, 2′, 36′) Brentford B 2 (Morgan, 4′; Trevitt, 22′)
After the break, the visitors began to turn the screw on County – seeing a lot more of the ball, and retaking the lead on 54 minutes. Another long diagonal from Owen this time picked out left-back Lisbie, who took the ball down well on his chest before firing home from point-blank range.
Morgan should have been celebrating his second and Brentford’s fourth just a few moments later, but sidefooted wide of the far post when picked out in the six-yard box.
County were still offering a threat at the other end, with another good ball in from Okeke finding Silva in a good position, but the striker steered his header over the bar.
The Bees were presented with a golden opportunity to put the game to bed 20 minutes from time as Cody Johnson was adjudged to have bundled his man over inside the box for a penalty. Trevitt stepped up to take it, but Maloney sprang to his left-hand-side to make a brilliant save.
Another big chance for the away side came and went as substitute Ethan Laidlaw placed a shot inches wide of the upright, before County made them pay for those missed opportunities.
Heading into stoppage time, a good flick-on by substitute Kylan Depeiaza sent Maswanhise in the clear again and the 21-year-old finished confidently again on his left foot, completing a fine hat-trick and rescuing a draw for the young Hatters.
Full-Time: County B 3 (Maswanhise, 2′, 36′, 90′) Brentford B 3 (Morgan, 4′; Trevitt, 22′; Lisbie, 54′)
Attendance: 417 (46 away fans).
