Louis Lancaster said he was “very pleased” with Brentford’s First Round win in the Middlesex County Senior Charity Cup.
Brentford entered an Under-21 Development Squad team in the competition, which supports the charity Help for Heroes and pits The Bees against the area’s non-league teams.
But with many Development Squad players in First Team contention, a line-up which included four members of Brentford’s Youth Team beat Staines Lammas 3-1 last night.
Luke Norris scored two of them, including a fine third goal, while Brentford’s second may go down as an own goal but Myles Hippolyte will be trying to claim it.
Louis, Brentford’s Youth Team Manager, took charge of the team for the game and praised his players’ professionalism against the Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Football League Division One team.
“I’m very pleased with the result,” said Louis, speaking to Bees Player after the match.
“This is the sort of game where you can slip up.
“It was important we were professional, played well and got the job done.
“The performance is crucial, the players played well.
“I spoke to the lads at half time; we were moving the ball quickly around the pitch but not getting in behind them.
“We wanted to get the ball, move quick, get in behind them and take the chances.
“They played three at the back and we needed to switch the play quicker.
“Their three were able to get across.
“I told the players to get the ball from one side to the other quickly and then we could punish them.”
Luke Norris scored the first from close range and had a hand in the second when his cross hit Adam Ridley and was rolling in before Myles Hippolyte made sure.
Brentford’s third was superb – Alfie Mawson sprayed the ball from the left side to the marauding Josh Clarke on the right; the wide man controlled with one touch and put a cross in with his next for Luke Norris to volley home from close range.
Brentford had been pegged back when Marcus Mwanza scored from close range but were well worth the win.
“I was pleased with the goals, we could have had a couple more,” said Louis.
“It was disappointing to concede from a set piece.
“It went over our defence and their man was alone at the back post.
“We’ll have a look at what happened and learn from it.”
Brentford’s included four Youth Team players in the starting XI, two of which – Michael Onovwigun and Richard Bryan – are First Year Scholars.
They also had four more First Year Scholars on the substitutes’ bench.
Louis praised the older players in the team for helping the youngsters through the match.
“It is good for the Youth Team players,” he said.
“It is good for their development to step up and see where they are.
“It was a good opportunity and the players rose to the challenge.
“Playing in a man’s game was a shock for a few of them but the Development Squad players were role models and helped them with the game.
“It comes from experience.
“The older ones take the responsibility.
“We are in a good position as a Club where we can play young players in a game like this.
“It is very positive and shows the Club is moving forwards.”
A full video interview with Louis Lancaster is available here for Bees Player subscribers.