Bradley Clayton felt everything came together as Brentford’s Youth Team swept aside Leeds United at Jersey Road on Saturday morning.
Following last week’s bitterly disappointing 3-0 defeat away at Huddersfield Town The Bees were got off to a perfect start against Leeds United going ahead after four minutes through Tom Field.
Bradley then took centre-stage scoring twice, either side of a Tyla Bell penalty for The Whites, before Reece Cole added the gloss late on with a fine long-range effort.
Speaking to Bees Player after the game Bradley said everything went right in what was a very good team performance.
The 17-year-old added that it was pleasing to get the defeat to Huddersfield Town out of the system as quickly as they did.
“It was a very pleasing team performance,” said Bradley.
“It was a great reaction from Huddersfield Town last week where we had one of the worst performances we have ever had.
“It was a great performance and we were back to winning ways.
“Sometimes you have those off days like last week.
“The trip was excellent with the hotel and preparation but it was a long trip and you have those off days sometimes.
“Everyone has been trying really hard to rectify the mistakes from last week and not let that happen again.
“We don’t want people thinking of us as a poor team.
“We are not and we are much better than we showed so we wanted to put everything right this week.
“Everybody was very up for the game as we needed to get the win and the good performance.
“Things just came together really.
“We played well and went back to basics.
“It was about getting back to our passing rhythm and we cut them open.
“The early goal helped us because we wanted to start fast.
“We were talking in the huddle before the game about starting fast and trying to get the early goal and keep on top which we did.”
Bradley’s two goals on Saturday were his fifth and sixth goals in ten games for Youth Team and Development Squad this campaign.
The diminutive striker managed five goals in 17 games last season and he said he was pleased to get back on the scoring trail having gone four games without a goal.
Bradley said he had been watching clips of Raul before the game and they gave him the idea for his first goal, a low finish under the on-rushing goalkeeper.
“I am pleased with the goals,” said Bradley.
“I was in a little bit of a drought before this game having not scored in four games so to get back to scoring ways is always nice.
“I like the sort of one on one goals and the little clever finishes.
“I like those goals a bit more than the rest but a goal is a goal so I like all of them.
“For the first goal it was a great pass by Kyjuon Marsh-Brown and I saw the keeper coming to close me down.
“I thought the only way I was going to score was to go really high or to try to go underneath him.
“I was watching clips before the game and I saw Raul, the former Real Madrid striker, score a goal similar to that and i tried to emulate it and it worked.
“I focus a lot on the world class players and see what they do and try to copy them because they are at the top for a reason.
“Scoring a goal like that was good and it shows that it is working.”
Bradley was partnered on Saturday by Under-16s striker Kingsley Eshun and he was impressed with the way the young striker stepped up to the Youth Team.
Kingsley joins Danny Parish and Joshua Bohui in playing up as a striker in the Youth Team this season and Bradley has been impressed by the contribution of all three of them.
“I have been very impressed with how the Under-16s have stepped up,” said Bradley.
“They have been outshining me in the games.
“They all provide different options.
“You have Joshua Bohui who is very tricky and good at taking on players, Kingsley Eshun is big, strong and fast and Danny Parish has got great movement and scored as well.
“They all have really good strengths and have been impressive.”
The build-up to Saturday’s game was dominated by the departure of Jeremy Steele who left as Youth Team manager after nearly two years at the club.
Bradley admitted it was a tough week for the players but said the players had to keep their heads down and focus on the task at hand.
“We were sad to see Jeremy leave but we have to keep our heads down and keep focused on the game,” said Bradley.
“Whatever else was happening our focus had to be on rectifying the mistakes from Huddersfield Town and I think we did that today.
“In the modern game now managers are changing all the time.
“This has been a good learning experience and it is all part of trying to become a professional football player.”