Reserves/Under-18's defender Brad Smith reflects on the season.
DK: What did you make of the season from a team perspective?
BS: It’s been a season full of positives from a team perspective the lads have come along way from the first day we came in for pre-season and it’s really shown the progression we’ve made from the last 6 or 7 results for the reserves. It’s a real positive going into next year because we can really push on as a team and challenge every team in the league.
DK: How would you sum up the season from a personal view point?
BS: I feel it’s been a really positive season for me and I’ve learnt a lot about my own game and feel like I’ve developed massively throughout the year. I’ve really enjoyed this season working with a top group of lads and a group of coaches who put a lot of work in for us and push us to the max.
DK: Can you pick 4 highlights from the season (Res/U18s), what are they and why?
BS: Winning our first reserves game was a great feeling within the group because it showed we could put up a fight. Then the fa youth cup run was a great experience for all of the lads a few tough games and then going and experiencing a completely different environment where there was a lot of pressure on the lads away infront of a fair few fans. Then the last two reserves game were top beating two rivals and really showing how much we’d come on as a team. And then I think the obvious one is winning the u18 county cup for the first time in the clubs history it was a massive achievement for the lads and you don’t get many nights like that in football so it was special.
DK: How did it feel to be the first Needham side to lift the Suffolk U18 Midweek Cup and what did you think of the Final?
BS: It’s an unbelievable feeling and one that the whole group should be so proud of being a mix of 1st years and u16 players against a near enough full side of second years. It was a lively game, took us lads 15 minutes to wake up but after that I thought we took good control of the game and created a lot of opportunities but we couldn’t quite capitalise to finish the game off but to go on and win on penalties is the best feeling u can have in football.
DK: What was going through your mind during the game/shootout?
BS: For me it was just playing the game like it was any other and not thinking of the occasion because if u focus on where u are and what’s at stake that’s when the nerves start to kick in but I thought the lads handled the situation very well and all had a great mentality going into the game.
DK: Did they score/take a pen - if so No.5 but also how did it feel to do so?
BS: Scoring a penalty in that kind of game and moment in the shootout is just such a relief and when u see the keepers dived the other way you know u can relax and the pressure goes back onto them. So it’s an unbelievable feeling.
DK: Did any games standout to you from this season?
BS: I’d struggle to pick out a standout game from the whole season but there’s been a lot of occasions where we’ve come back from behind and won games but I think just because of the occasion it was in I’d have to say the final because it showed real character from the lads to not drop in the moment when we went 2-0 down and come back from that to go on and win the game so that was a standout for me.
DK: What targets do you have for next season?
BS: My targets for next year stay the same really go and win the county cup with the 18s again, go on another fa youth cup run, and carry on the form we’ve been in for the reserves and see how high we can finish in the table. Because I think the lads can really kick on now and could have a really good year together next year.
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