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| See official site for home match reports! Southend United v Brentford(LDV TROPHY)
Tuesday 13th March 2001
Brentford took a giant step towards the Grand Final with a hard fought 2-1 win over 3rd division Southend at a noisy Roots Hall.The first half was pretty even with few clear chances;the fireworks were saved for the second period.Bees hero was teenager Michael Dobson who netted twice.The first was a blistering shot which fairly flew into the top corner from 20 yards!However,Whelan equalised for the home side just a minute later to silence the 1700 Bees fans celebrations.The advantage was restored for the Bees as Dobson volleyed home from close range following a free kick and,apart from a few minor scares the Bees held on!
There was crowd trouble after the game when a Bees fan was stabbed near the railway station and others were injured by flying glass.Earlier in the day,Bees fans packed the "home" Golden Lion pub and several others and there was no sign of trouble.There were minor altercations during the match and one Bees fan was ejected for entering the field of play!
Shrimpers manager,David Webb,came in for some stick from Bees fans as well.All in all a most satisfactory result and performance.It isn't over yet,but the Bees are warm odds on favourites now.(Attendance 5,055 which looked more like 7,000)! Peterborough United v Brentford
Tuesday 6th March 2001
A 1-1 draw was probably a fair result but Brentford,and in particular Scott Partridge,had enough chances to win in the second half.A deflected free kick after 32 minutes by Williams gave the home side the lead in a poor first half.Ivar Ingamarsson equalised after 54 minutes and the Bees squandered several chances.Bad injuries for Partridge and McCammon may mean them missing the Stoke City game on Saturday!Bees are now 11 points off a play-off place! AFC Bournemouth v Brentford
Saturday 3rd March 2001
Once again,a perfectly good day out was ruined by the football as Brentford went down 0-2 to an average Bournemouth side.An inept first half performance coupled with some poor defending from Gibbs and Theobald gifted the Cherries two goals and the points and despite second half changes and an improved showing,the Bees returned to London with what they deserved,nothing.Poor refereeing and linesmanship could be blamed as well but that would be fickle!!
Many fans who hadn't been to a Bees game for a while wont be in a hurry to return after this.
700 fans made the trip but only about 100 of them got behind the team,the rest going through the motions of seeing the season out which,apart from the LDV Trophy,is over!!
Rail services to the South Coast were disrupted but we still arrived just 10 minutes late and coming home 4 minutes early!!!!
Dean Court is a death trap and I have informed the FA and Football League of the poor state of affairs that awaited Bees fans.An all wooden stand,facilities shared by home fans leading to overcrowding;even the stewards opened the gates at half time to ease congestion.
And that's it really.Nothing to enthuse about.The lasting memory is of a huge mound in readiness for the burning of carcasses alongside the M27 following the foot and mouth outbreak.Perhaps the farm-hands would like to throw the pile of crap that was the Brentford team on it too!!Because they looked like dead meat as well!! Brentford v Notts.County
Saturday 24th February 2001
Brentford recorded a deserved victory by 3-1 over a Notts.County side in the running for the play-offs.Paul Evans headed a goal of some quality and further strikes from Owusu and Partridge saw the Bees home.Brentford are now 9 points off a play-off place and on current form are in with a shout.Bees visit Bournemouth on Saturday knowing a win will keep them on the pace.However,with tough games against Stoke,Wigan,Walsall and Rotherham still to come,the latter 3 away from home,it is still a tall order for Ray Lewington's improving side!Just 4,200 attended the game,a further reminder of how much the club needs success! 
LEFT:-Bees manager Ray Lewington Brentford v Bristol City
Tuesday 20th February 2001
Another league double for the Bees with a 2-1 home win against ambitious City.Kevin O'Connor netted after just 3 minutes but Tony Thorpe made it 1-1 at half time.Much maligned Scott Partridge turned in Lloyd Owusu's cross to seal a hard fought win in the 2nd half.With more consistency earlier in the season Bees could be in the play-off places now.As it is they remain 10th,12 points off that target.Another sub 5,000 crowd was a major disappointment however. Millwall v Brentford
Friday 16th February 2001
If there was any justice in football,then Brentford would have come away from The Den with at least a point.The fact that they didn't suggests that Millwall have what it takes to win the league as they picked up maximum points without really impressing.And if Lloyd Owusu had taken either of two excellent first half chances,the Lions lead at the top would be looking distinctly fragile.
In young Dobson,Brentford have unearthed a gem of a player as his man of the match award would suggest.Evans,the captain,led by example and Powell and Marshall,supported by Mahon,had strong games.
Sadly,this 1-0 defeat leaves the Bees play-off hopes in tatters but the LDV Trophy offers some salvation for a season which has rarely sprung to life.The 300 or so Bees fans who could be bothered to go will be disappointed with the result,but will have strutted around South London with their heads held high.The stay away fans will say "We told you so",secretly wishing they had attended to add to the constant,and excellent Bees support! Swansea v Brentford(LDV TROPHY)
Wednesday 14th February 2001
Brentford reached the Southern area final with a hard fought 3-2 win at Vetch Field.Paul Evans converted a 15th minute penalty after Swans'keeper,Freestone,was sent off for a foul on Owusu.Swansea equalised on 56 minutes but Mark McCammon restored the lead 2 minutes later.Swans levelled again on 66 minutes through Preece but Lloyd Owusu's scrambled 89th minute strike proved the winning goal.Bees face Southend United and former manager,David Webb(!),in the two legged final on March 13th and 20th.The winners of this will meet Lincoln City or Stoke City/Port Vale in the overall final at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium on Sunday 22nd April.CARDIFF GENERAL....ALL ABOARD!! 
Bees last minute hero at Swansea....Lloyd Owusu! Brentford 1-2 Reading
Saturday 10th February 2001
This was a thrilling local derby watched by 7,500 fans at Griffin Park.Brentford had the better of the early exchanges but their inability to take what chances they created came back to haunt them.Reading were 2-0 up after about an hour and although McCammon got one back with 5 minutes to go,Reading held firm.A draw would have been a fair result it has to be said yet,despite Mac's goal,the visitors looked the better team although I am doubtful about
their promotion aspirations.The game was marred by minor crowd trouble at half-time and a big thank you to whoever threw my pint at the Reading fans behind the main stand.So,is Brentford's season over?We will know by Wednesday at Swansea!! Wycombe Wanderers 0-0 Brentford
Saturday 3rd February 2001
If ever there was a case for careful planning as regards a new stadium,Wanderers'Adams Park is not a good example.It took the bus to the railway station over half an hour to get to the main road as a new single file policy came into force.Hounslow Council please note.We do not want a repeat wherever we end up!
Well the game ended 0-0 although this was slightly better than your average goalless-bore.Indeed,with a decent forward on the pitch,either side could have won it;I felt the Bees shaded the game.Both 'keepers were in great form but for me Brentford's defence(except Lovett)was outstanding.Wycombe were hard-working,but ordinary.It will be a shame looking back on what could have been at Griffin Park this season. With a little speculation from Ron Noades into a prolific goalscorer....Still....what the hell eh!We had 1,000 fans on the day,the home showing was pathetic!
The design of Adam's Park is ok,the sort of ground we will end up with I'm sure.But that nightmare exit means I wont visit again.With just 2 bar staff for 130 thirsty Bees fans in the local pub,the whole day had a feeling of waiting for something to happen.In Wycombe,little does!!!!
Oh,and as for the drumming on the tannoy...Aaaaaaaaaaaagh!!!
Finally,it's official,the FATTEST steward is at WWFC!! 
LEFT:-Midfielder turned defender Gavin Mahon BARNET 1-2 BRENTFORD(LDV TROPHY)
Tuesday 30th January 2001
Brentford reached the Southern semi-finals of the LDV Trophy with a more comfortable win than the scoreline suggests against inferior Barnet from Division 3!
Martin Rowlands gave the REAL BEES a half-time lead and skipper,Paul Evans,made it 2-0.Barnet pulled one back immediately but were seldom in the game.Brentford made hard work of winning the game and will be disappointed that Rowlands was sent off at the death for a petulant act.Swansea,Swindon and Southend are the other semi-finalists making Brentford slight favourites to reach the Millenium Stadium Final in May!Around 500 fans made the trip to what is easily the worst ground in League football.DOBSON was outstanding for Brentford all night.
OLDHAM ATHLETIC 3-0 BRENTFORD
Saturday 27th January 2001
When you get home at 11.30pm,with a throbbing head,after a performance like this,you KNOW it's time to call it a day as far as trips to Oldham are concerned!
Not that it was the worst day out ever.On the contrary in fact.Why is it that,all too often,the football gets in the way of an enjoyable day out?I left before the third goal,in desperate need of a livener.I heard the 3rd goal go in and it was telephone reports back to London and a lot of piss-taking for having the temerity to go to Oldham in the first place!
Several grogs later,(the Latics fans couldn't believe what they had witnessed either),and it was back to Manchester for the all-in event that is wind up any fans that you see.Several Coventry fans,including my boss,were on the train.They'd had a big row at Maine Road apparently.A Cockney Cardiff fan(!!!??!)and 2 Man.City fans were there too.I took a dislike to one of them as he found to his cost!Bernie and Burglar Bill were there too and,all in all,it was a decent trip home.(Apart from some lesbian Aussie who wound me up so much I shared a drink with her)!!!
The Northern Line is normally crap but I "flew" home where "er indoors" met me at the station.Being the romantic type that I am I bought her a kebab before watching some of match of the day and crashing out in the armchair.I was woken up at 5am with a splitting head,empty pockets and chilli sauce everywhere.Ah the joys of a trip to Oldham....and a 0-3 defeat!
So what of the game?This was my third visit to Boundary Park and,yet again,it was cold.We arrived in the cotton mill town at 11.20am following an enjoyable train journey including discussions such as the holocaust remembrance day with a pair of Jews,the male of which resembled Eric Hall,the female of which resembled the Albert Hall!Anyway,the pubs didn't open until noon so I sampled the local culinary delights(a keema roll with chips!).We watched the Leeds v Liverpool cup tie where Nick Logan cleaned up while we all shifted various pints at prices which could suggest a ground share with the Latics!
We met some very supportive home fans(regarding staying at GP)then it was off to the game.I reckon 15 quid is a bit steep for 2nd division football,especially as there were no bar facilities.The pitch looked ugly and 75% of our fans looked asleep!!
We played pretty well for 70 minutes,but we do miss some chances.The home fans were conspicuous by their silence;one goal would have won it for us I know.A steward asked us to sit down so a chorus of stand up if you love Brentford soon sent him packing!...and then it happened.3 goals in the last 10 minutes.Shock Horror!!We don't deserve this.The pubescent Oldham kids(who got in for free)were loving it.Good luck to them I say.
How many more times will the words "never again" be uttered?I'll let you know after Barnet...or Wycombe.
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