By Gareth Vincent
South Wales Evening Post

Shaun MacDonald struck his first goals in senior football as Swansea City chalked up only a second Carling Cup win in nine years last night.

The 20-year-old Swansea product was handed a first start in 20 months by boss Roberto Martinez and responded by netting in each half to stake his claim for much more regular involvement.

Swansea, meantime, will still be involved in the League Cup come the second round for only the second time since 1999.

It was hardly a vintage performance, but MacDonald's goals gave the home side a well-deserved first victory of the new season over a limited Brentford side.

Some Championship managers have spoken this week of the Carling Cup first round presenting an opportunity to build momentum after the opening round of league fixtures.

Many pledged to stick with their strongest possible line-up, but not Martinez.

He made 10 changes to the side which lost at Charlton last Saturday - the maximum possible given that Dorus de Vries is the only keeper on the payroll.

Weaker line-up it may have been, but Martinez still included plenty of players who expect to have a big say throughout the Championship keen.

The most interesting selection was on the seven-man bench - new for this competition this season - where Angel Rangel made a surprise appearance following his summer hernia operation.

Injury problems meant Brentford, who began their League Two campaign with a dispiriting defeat at Bury, could only name six substitutes.

Yet there was little sign of the Bees' early-season troubles - or the fact there are two divisions between the sides - in a turgid opening half hour.

Swansea were clumsy in possession, with combinations not working as Martinez might have hoped. Perhaps this was a price of multiple alterations on the teamsheet.

With former Liberty loanee Marcus Bean leading the charge, Brentford hounding their hosts in the opening stages.

The Londoners never threatened de Vries in the first half, and it was Jordi Gomez who had the first shot of the night on 11 minutes.

As his scuffed 20-yarder rolled wide of the post, the Spaniard may have wondered if a square pass to fellow countryman Andrea Orlandi may have been the shrewder option.

MacDonald's first effort was tame, his cross-shot from the left drifting harmlessly into the arms of goalkeeper Ben Hamer.

But the boy from Blaenymaes would soon make his mark.

The breakthrough came at the end of Swansea's best spell of possession in the first half, as Martinez's men worked the ball right and then left.

Orlandi showed good persistence to force his way past right-back Kevin O'Connor near the corner flag and then swept the ball inside to Febian Brandy.

With the angle tight, the teenage striker drilled across the face and Hamer could only parry the ball towards the far post. MacDonald waited for the ball to drop before guiding home from six yards.

The local lad's contribution was warmly appreciated by fans and team-mates alike, with MacDonald making his way to the sideline to share a hug with fellow young buck Joe Allen.

Swansea grew in confidence after the opener, and they came within inches of a spectacular second just three minutes later.

There was no pretty build-up, only a midfield scrap which ended with the ball falling towards Gomez.

Twenty-five yards from goal, the on-loan Espanyol man swung his left-foot instinctively and looked up to see the ball beat Hamer but crash to safety off the crossbar.

Only a substitute at Charlton, Gomez was doing his best to stake a first-team claim ahead of Saturday's meeting with Nottingham Forest.

Nine minutes into the second half he collected possession 40 yards from goal and fed Jason Scotland on the left.

Scotland fizzed the ball back across the edge of the penalty area and Gomez crunched another left-foot half-volley which Hamer pawed to safety.

Fede Bessone, another making his full Swansea debut, saw his night end in misery when a galloping run down the left ended with an awkward fall.

When the unfortunate Argentine was carried off, Rangel was summoned for the final half hour. Cue the second largest cheer of the evening so far.

It would soon be trumped - although not before Brentford carved a first chance of note when Adam Newton's right-wing cross was headed narrowly over the top by Marvin Williams.

Then came Swansea's second goal of the night and the end of any lingering Brentford hopes of a revival.

Owain Tudur Jones clever pass carved the initial opening for Scotland, but his shot was blocked and the ball skidded on the sodden surface to the feet of MacDonald just to the left of goal.

The Wales Under-21 cap did the rest, stepping inside onto his right feet and drilling beyond the helpless Hamer.

This was MacDonald's night - although it might have belonged to Gomez. He came close to the spectacular for the third time 12 minutes from the end.

Spotting Hamer off his line, Gomez tried his luck David Beckham-style from 45 yards and was around a foot away from glory. Next he picked a perfect pass for Guillem Bauza to chase.The substitute rounded Hamer but, with the angle against him, shot into the side netting.

There was still time for Bauza to slash across just across the face and spoon wastefully over the bar, while fellow sub Moses Ademola thumped a drive against the post at the other end.

Glenn Poole cracked the rebound goalwards only for de Vries to save, and Brentford's miserable night when Bean, booked earlier for a foul, was shown a second yellow for dissent.

Manager Andy Scott went bananas on the touchline.

Martinez, meantime, was content at the end of a decent night's work.