Youth Team defender Seth Owens can’t wait to get back in next season as Jon De Souza’s side look to go one further than this campaign.
It was an ultimately frustrating season for the Under-18s as they were pipped to the Under-18 Professional Development League Two South title on the final day by Charlton Athletic before The Addicks then won the Play-Off final last week at Griffin Park.
17-year-old Seth, who still has a year to go on his two-year scholarship, said it was tough to watch Charlton pick up a trophy that he felt belonged to The Bees.
Speaking to Bees Player earlier this week the central-defender said that feeling of hurt will be something to drive the Youth Team on in the coming season.
“It was heart-breaking to see them pick up the trophy because we all knew that it should have been us,” said Seth.
“Now that we know the feeling of losing we don’t want to know that again.
“It has given us even more motivation to win if for next season.
“It should have been us this season but now we have stuff to work on over the summer and it is up for grabs next season.
“Speaking with the other first years we all want to get back in because we want to win it this year.
“We can go even further than this year.
“We are more experienced in terms of handling big pressure situations and we can try and do things differently.”
In front of a crowd of around 700 at Griffin Park last Tuesday Charlton, who had been beaten twice by Brentford during the regular season, took an early lead through Joshua Umerah.
Despite dominating the second-half in terms of possession and territory The Bees couldn’t find any way through as The Addicks held on for the win.
Seth felt that conceding the early goal played right into the hands of the South London side as they looked to sit deep and play on the counter.
“We are still devastated because we thought that we should have beaten them,” said Seth.
“We beat them twice in the season but now we have more to work on and more to look forward to next season.
“The first-half was a bit scrappy and we were trying to find our feet.
“The second-half we kept the ball and we pressed them but they sat off so it was hard to break them down.
“Conceding early hurt us a lot because their ideal game plan was to get a goal early and then sit off.
“We had to dig in deep and try and get something out of it but unfortunately we couldn’t.
“We are not used to having big crowds at all so it is different for us.
“I thought we did well as a team to handle it.
“It was another step on our career and another challenge that we have to face as a footballer.”
With Brentford accustomed to playing a high defensive line and Charlton sitting deep and looking to play on the counter Seth and his central defensive partner Gradi Milenge spent much of the second-half inside opposition territory.
Seth felt it was a good experience to be given so much time and space on the ball but admitted that Charlton posed a tough threat on the break with their pace and power.
“The way Charlton play gives us more freedom because the strikers don’t really press us a lot,” said Seth.
“We have a lot of time on the ball.
“In our league there aren’t really many powerful and strong strikers but Charlton give us a different sort of challenge.
“They got in behind and held the ball up well but I thought that me and Gradi Milenge did well to handle them.
“Myself and Gradi are confident on keeping a high back-line because we have got a quick back four.
“We are confident in our ability to deal with anything in behind.”
Seth was one of two first-year scholars to start last Tuesday’s match with three more Under-17s on the bench.
Over the course of the season a number of first-year and Under-16s players have played their part in the Youth Team’s successful season.
Looking ahead to next year Seth feels it is important that the new crop of second-year scholars carry on the good leadership qualities shown by this year’s older cohort.
“We will have more responsibility in terms of looking after the younger players,” said Seth.
“We will need to be leaders on the pitch and off the pitch.
“The second-years this year have done a good job of keeping us under the radar and looking after us.”