YOUNG Brewers captain Tom Hewlett insisted that Monday night’s victory over Chesterfield is “just the starting point” as our Academy side advanced to the Second Round of the FA Youth Cup, where they will host Bolton Wanderers.
Hewlett, whose powerful strike in the first half got his side back level less than a minute after going behind, was pleased with the instant reaction from his teammates but expected nothing less.
"From a captain’s point of view, when that happens [going behind] everyone should be thinking: 'right, that’s happened, I’ve got to work even harder now.' Everyone needs to grit their teeth and give it another go.
"It’s nice to get a goal, obviously and I took it well, I thought. I went very close with my left earlier on and was very shocked that it didn’t go in, but with my right, I was happy with it. I shoved the centre-back off me and it was a good finish."
Three minutes before the break the Young Brewers took a lead of their own when Emmanuel Shittu centred for Yewo Nyirenda, who turned on a sixpence before dispatching his finish.
Taking that lead into half-time was no less than his side deserved, Hewlett believes.
"[In the] first half I thought everyone looked up for it, and I think we deserved the lead fully," said Hewlett. "Everyone wanted it more than the other player and that’s what you want from someone that you’re playing with.
"I was very pleased for Yewo to get the goal. He’s a good lad and he works very hard. Playing with him as well is great because he’s good at winning flick-ons and I like running in behind.
"I feel we both worked really well on the night. I couldn’t ask for more from him, he was a great partner to play with."
First team manager Nigel Clough, club captain Jake Buxton and top goal-scorer Liam Boyce were all in attendance at the Proact Stadium, much to the delight of Hewlett and his teammates alike.
"To have those players coming to our games just shows how good of a club this is if I'm perfectly honest. Watching on and just being the way that they are with us is second to none."
Looking ahead to the next round, and the season as a whole, Hewlett hopes tonight will help kick start the Young Brewers’ campaign as they look to achieve on both fronts, saying: "We always want to do well, no matter what, but with the FA Youth Cup this season we want to give it a right good go and really push on with it.
"Tonight is just the starting point. Everyone’s in there [the dressing room] cheering, but we’ve got to work even harder for the next round now.
"Friday we’ve got a game against Huddersfield [Town], and now we need to really kick on. We’ve had a few poor results recently, but we’ve got to keep moving forward from this."