Joe Maloney said Brentford deserved their place in the Middlesex Charity Cup, which supports the charity Help for Heroes, Final.
The Bees entered a Development Squad in the competition and are now just one game from winning it.
They reached the final, which will be played on Thursday, by beating Hanworth Villa 3-0.
Myles Hippolyte put Brentford ahead and second half goals from Lewis Lavender and Luke Norris sealed the win.
Joe, speaking to Bees Player after the match, said Brentford had to earn the right to play against a more experience side but were worth the victory.
“We deserved the win,” he said.
“We played well.
“We passed the ball well and we could have got a few more goals.
“We got a good result, we are in to the final and we got a clean sheet.
“We had to earn the right to play.
“We couldn’t turn up thinking we were an Academy side and could just pass it round.
“We had to work for the ball and when we did that we could pass it and we did it well.”
Joe said Brentford knew they had to start well and they dominated before the first goal.
Hanworth came back in to the game a little but never really looked like pulling level before Brentford sealed it in the second half.
“We knew they would be up for the game and we couldn’t give them a sniff,” he said.
“We tried to shut them out early, keep the ball and set the tempo.
“I think we did it well.
“We talked at half time and said it was important to get the next goal.
“Once we got the second goal we cruised it.”
Joe is normally a central midfield player but was forced in to service in the centre of defence due to injuries.
He played alongside Max Herbert, who is also normally a midfield player while winger Josh Clarke played at right back.
Joe said he was happy to fill in when asked by Development Squad Manager Jon De Souza and he thought the back four did well against a direct Hanworth side.
“We have injuries at the back,” explained Joe.
“Alfie Mawson is injured, Sam Griffiths picked up an injury this week.
“I was surprised to be asked to play there but I have played in a few positions and I was happy to do it.
“My favourite position is the centre of midfield but it is important to be able to do a job elsewhere if asked.
“If the manager can trust you to do the job it’s great.
“Jon trusted me to do it today and I think I did alright.
“I think we did well as a unit.
“We expected them to be quite direct and physical but handled it well for a small back four.
“We shut them out and kept a clean sheet.
“We had to be strong and try to win the second balls.
“It worked well.”
Brentford will play Uxbridge FC in the Middlesex Charity Cup, which supports the charity Help for Heroes, Final on Thursday, May 9.
The game will be played at Uxbridge’s ground – Honeycroft, in Horton Road, West Drayton – and kick off at 7.30pm.
Joe said it was important for the young side to prove they could win trophies.
“This is a tournament we want to win,” he said.
“It is good to show our managers and the First Team Manager we can win a cup.
“It is important to show we can win something.
“It would be good to make a bit of history.
“Everyone at the Club wants to win things; we can show we can do that.
“And it would be great to do it against more physical, older players.
“We can show we can impose our style on them.
“That would be perfect.”
A full post-match video interview with Joe Maloney is available here for Bees Player subscribers.