ACADEMY striker Tom Hewlett was delighted with his brace of goals as the Brewers ran out 6-3 winners at Hednesford in last night's Birmingham Senior Cup First Round tie.
Hewlett got the chance to start up front flanked by David Templeton and Lloyd Dyer and made the most of his opportunity to impress with a goal in each half. It might have been more as the striker also clipped the top of the bar with a well struck shot from outside the box.
He said: "It was a great opportunity for me to play in the Birmingham Senior Cup and to experience men's football as well is massive for me at this stage in the development of my career.
"Playing up front with Lloyd Dyer and David Templeton was a brilliant experience - to see the way they play, the runs they make and the passes they see is a different level for me and I was grateful to be able to play in the game."
Hewlett also linked up well with Joe Sbarra, who unselfishly set him up for his second finish of the night.
Hewlett said: "Every time he got on the ball I seemed to be in space and Joe played the right pass at the right time.
"For the goal, I said to Joe after the game that he didn't have to pass but he said he would rather me score than himself so I was grateful for that as well.
"My first goal just came from the basics of holding the ball up, laying it off and getting back in the box and it's a great ball from Nathan Morley right across the box and I'm in a good position at the right time.
"I love scoring goals and it's good for my confidence as well."
Only that crossbar denied Hewlett a hat-trick.
He said: "I thought that was going in at first as it dipped at the last but I was happy to get the two on the night."
The only downside for Hewlett was having to come off with an injury in the second half.
"I just jumped up for a flick on and I felt my calf cramp up but hopefully it will be OK."
Hewlett says that the way the Academy integrates with the first team is helping bring the young Brewers on.
"It feels everyone is going in the same direction and it's a great step to go and play in that standard of football.
"I'm enjoying my football. I feel I'm doing everthing to the best of my capabilities so I'm just going to keep on doing what I'm doing."