Jordan Carey likened Brentford’s 1-1 draw with Birmingham City in the Under-18 Professional Development League Two South to a game of basketball.
After an entertaining first-half the game came to life in the second period as Courtney Senior and David Poppa scored within nine minutes of the restart.
From then on both sides piled forwards looking for the decisive third goal of the match.
Jordan was called into action on a number of occasions to keep the visitors out including one magnificent save in the dying seconds to deny Poppa the winner.
Speaking to Bees Player after the game Jordan admitted that he didn’t know what was going through his mind as Poppa bore down on goal.
The 16-year-felt that both sides had chances to win the game but he was pleased with the way he and his defence stood up to Blues attacking intent.
“It was a busy day for me,” said Jordan.
“It was a good performance from the whole back five including myself.
“We were unlucky to concede a goal but the ball didn’t roll our way.
“We were dominating the game at times, sometimes they were dominating the game and sometimes it was like a game of basketball.
“The game could have gone either way I think.
“We could have got a couple more goals but they could have got a couple more goals too.
“In the end we scored one and they scored one and that’s how it is.
“I couldn’t tell you what was going through my mind as he ran through.
“There were 101 things going through it.
“At one stage I thought I wasn’t going to save it.
“I think it must have been bravery as I got a big hand onto it and came out on top.”
Jordan took over the number one shirt when Nik Tzanev fell ill last week and has done well in his two starts this season.
The 16-year-old made a number of fine saves in the narrow defeat to QPR last Saturday and was again called into action on Saturday against Birmingham.
Jordan said that he has been taught throughout his career to make it count when he is given the chance to don the number one shirt and that is what he intends to do this season.
“I have always been told growing up that when you get the nod you have to make it count,” said Jordan.
“I believe I have done that for the last two weeks and hopefully I can keep that going for the rest of the season.
“There is nothing like having the number one on your back.
“Nik is a good performer and he is brilliant in training.
“We get on quite well and he is there in training to push me on like I do to him.”
Jordan is now under the guidance of former Finland international goalkeeper Jani Viander.
The former Brentford and Stoke player is the Lead Academy Goalkeeping Coach at Jersey Road and Jordan said he has brought a lot of good ideas and practices to training.
Jordan believes that Jani has taught him a lot of thinks both physically and mentally and he is looking forward to working with the Finn more in the future.
“Jani’s sessions are exciting,” said Jordan.
“It is definitely a new style.
“I have changed my set position and I have changed ways of saving the ball.
“I think the future looks bright with him at the club.
“Jani can teach you a lot of life lessons as well.
“I get on with him quite well on and off the pitch and I get on with him quite well.
“I think he is a good coach.”
Jordan joined the club back in 2009 and signed his scholarship last summer to be a member of the Youth Team until the end of the 2015/16 season.
The tall-goalkeeper said he has found adjusting to life in the Youth Team tough both mentally and physically but he knows that they are the levels he has to reach to play professional football.
Having been at the club for so long Jordan said he has seen a lot of changes around the Academy and at Jersey Road and thinks that those improvements are still on-going.
“The step up has been hard,” said Jordan.
“Pre-season killed me.
“Mentally I think it is just as challenging as it is physically.
“If you want to be a professional though those are the levels that you have to reach and I think that the club has done well to push me to those levels.
“I am going on to my fifth season here.
“When I came here we just had the one training ground building and now we have so much more.
“The coaching is brilliant and it is always improving.
“We are doing pretty well.”