TFC Academy opened a busy weekend in CSL action with a 3-2 win on Friday night against visiting Brantford Galaxy.

Proud head coach Jason Bent exclaimed, "tonight we got an exceptional performance from the boys. They were full of confidence and passed the ball really well which absolutely carved the opposition open on so many occasions." Though Bent feld the finishing could have been better.

"Personally, I have never been involved in a game either as player or coach where so many glorious chances were missed. We could have easily have been winning 5-1 at half time."

In the second minute winger Keith Makubuya skipped by a defender and then raced towards goal before taking a shot from 15 yards that goalkeeper Ante Domjanovic parried away to safety. Later TFC’s attacking midfielder Kevan Aleman started to influence proceedings and in the sixth minute dribbled past a number of opponents before striking a low hard shot at Domjanovic.

Brantford responded by committing numbers forward and only a minute later Patric Gerhardt swung in a delightful cross that Jacek Przednowek headed from 8 yards out that just missed the far post.

TFC created another opportunity as speedster Makubuya found himself in behind the Brantford backline but his volley from 12 yards out was hit wide of the target. Fellow front man Nicholas Lindsay then had a glorious opportunity when he was put clean through on a breakaway but his shot was struck right at Domjanovic in goal.

One might have thought that it was not going to be TFC’s day as they failed to convert a number of first half chances. It was not until the 23rd minute that TFC finally found the breakthrough, Kevan Aleman showed fantastic skill to leave three opposition players in his wake before threading a lovely weighted pass for Lindsay, who on this occasion calmly slotted past Domjanovic in goal for the 1-0 lead.

Josh Janniere provided Makubuya with an excellent opportunity to increase the Reds' advantage when he dribbled to the goal line before crossing a ball that invited the winger to tap in from close range but he missed when it seemed easier to score.

TFC continued to send numbers forward in search of that elusive second goal which was provided by Kevan Aleman who showed composure beyond his years to nonchalantly chip the goal keeper, making it 2-0 for the Young Reds.

After the interval the home side continued where they left off and this time Makubuya finally capitalized when presented with a one on one situation with Domjanovic by passing the ball into the goal to put TFC Academy 3-0 after 62 minutes of play. The relief on his face was clearly evident as he scored his first of the season.

The visitors did not give up and sent numbers forward in hope of finding their way back into the game. They hit back with a well taken goal by Miodrag Andjelkovic who hit a curling shot with the outside of his boot that sailed into the top corner. Brantford was finding some gaps and began to dominate in midfield, providing forward Jack Przednowek with an opportunity in the 88th minute that he took from close range to bring Brantford back to within a goal.

Bent looked back on this spell with worry saying, "in the latter stages of the match we lost our composure and did not manage the game as we should have. At three-nil up we were cruising and then all of a sudden we stop passing the ball and the opposition begins to take over the game."

The remaining minutes were certainly a nervous finish for the young Academy side as they were in danger of throwing away a three-goal second half lead. The referee blew the full time whistle and the score finished 3-2 just as it did when these two sides met late June.

"We certainly need to learn how to manage a game better as we move forward with this team," Bent said at the conclusion.

"In the end though, we are delighted with the amount of chances we created which gave us a platform to take three valuable points tonight and move us to the top of the league with four games remaining."

TFC Academy's next home match is on Sunday September 12 at Centennial Park, kick off at 8pm.

"This is the first time we have been top of the league at such a late stage in the season and we want to stay there," Bent went on to say, "it is important to build a good rhythm as we approach the playoffs."