ACADEMY Manager Dan Robinson says that Tuesday’s Central League Cup clash with Bristol Rovers was an important experience for the Young Brewers.
Albion were beaten 2-0 in the South Central group match, despite frustrating a much more experienced Bristol side for much of the contest.
Robinson says that the plan was to follow the pattern that the first team has played in the past, and says the match was a good experience for the Young Brewers.
He said: “It was another great experience for our players, that are predominantly 16 and 17, to play against men in a competitive fixture.
“The manager has recently highlighted the importance of those opportunities and the learning that they get from it. Today was another opportunity, and one that the players have taken.
“What we set out to do, for their learning, was to face an under 23s team with some senior players in there like the first team had set out at times last season against Championship sides.
“We looked to frustrate Bristol and hit them on the counter. We frustrated them and for 44 minutes, we did a good job. We gave them the first goal and then two minutes after half-time, we gave them the second. That is it, as far as the result goes.
“However, we feel that our work to bridge the gap between youth football and professional football has taken a step forward.”