Youth Team midfielder Reece Cole said the whole team needed to take responsibility for the defending in their 5-3 defeat to bottom of the table Colchester United on Saturday.
The Bees went into the match top of the table against a Colchester United side who had picked up only four points at home in their previous nine games.
Zain Westbrooke and Makhosini Khanye put The Bees ahead twice but Jon De Souza’s side conceded three goals in an eight minute second-half spell from which they never recovered.
Speaking to Bees Player after the match Reece said that his side produced too many individual errors and that was something the whole team needed to take responsibility for.
“Everybody is a bit down because of the result,” said Reece.
“We didn’t come here to lose 5-3 we came here to win the game.
“A few of the boys know they did well individually but then again it was individual errors that cost us the game.
“We thought three goals would surely win us the game but it hasn’t and we have to learn from our mistakes.
“I wouldn’t blame it all on the defence because there were individual errors all over the pitch
“I just think we weren’t clinical enough in the final third.
“We had the quality to get in there but then we weren’t clinical enough to finish it.
“Everyone is a bit down in the dressing room now but everyone wants to get in on Monday morning and work hard ahead of next week.”
The match was played in horrendous conditions with strong winds and rain throughout the match which took their toll on a pitch that began to cut up from the early stages.
The conditions made it more difficult for The Bees to play their normal passing game but Reece felt that they adapted well to the circumstances.
“The conditions were unreal out there,” said Reece.
“The wind for the five minutes after kick-off was bad but I think we did well to battle through it.
“It was hard to play out from the back on that pitch.
“The coaches told us to try and play out from the back and we did but there were a few times that it didn’t come off and we had to go long.
“We are quite an adaptable team and we can adjust to different situations.
“I think in the first-half we did well.”
Saturday’s team was without a number of experienced players as Courtney Senior and Gradi Milenge began loan spells at Wycombe Wanderers and Farnborough Town respectively while Audrius Laucys, Seth Owens, James Ferry and Kyjuon Marsh-Brown were all involved in the Under-21s.
Reece said it was great news for Courtney, the Youth Team and the Academy that Courtney had been given a chance at a Football League club.
“It is great for Courtney Senior and Gradi Milenge to go out on loan,” said Reece.
“That gave quite a few first-years the chance to play today and they did well.
“It is great for Courtney to go to Wycombe.
“It is also great for the club that a 17 year-old boy is able to go out and play in the Football League.”
Saturday’s match was the first game back after the Youth Team’s recent trip to Florida to take part in the IMG Cup.
Reece said it was a great experience for the boys to go to Florida and take part in such a competition.
The 16-year-old added it was a real eye-opener to see the dedication and work put in by the other athletes at the Academy and that was something which inspired the players.
“Florida was a brilliant trip and many thanks to the club for organising that,” said Reece.
“Hopefully there will be many more trips like that to come.
“It was inspiring when we were going to Breakfast at 7 30 in the morning and you could see Tennis players sweating who had been out there for an hour before we had got to breakfast.
“It showed us where we were in terms of our attitude and dedication and gave us a perspective of where we need to be.”
Bees Player subscribers can see the full interview here