Fleetwood Town Development Squad head coach Matt Lawlor spoke to the Club following his sides 4-1 win over Cardiff City in the Professional League Development League opener at Highbury.
The young Cods started off the game well and scored two quick goals thanks to Josh Edwards and summer signing Theo Williams.
Club legend Nathan Pond featured in the match and scored the third before half-time with a well placed header, with Tom Hoyle rounding it off later on despite Cardiff's consellation goal.
Town now find themselves top of the Professional Development League on goal difference after the first round of fixtures.
Here's what Lawlor had to say after the final whistle:
On the win…
“We are delighted with the performance from the lads, more importantly than the win in what was our first ever game as a Category Two Club.
“The boys followed instructions from the coaches throughout the game, but what was pleasing was the lads were able to figure things out on the pitch during the game.
“We created very good chances an managed to take them and we scored four goals, with three of those coming in the first half."
On the quick-fire double…
“With the first, I didn’t expect Josh Edwards to score with his weaker foot, I was shouting at him to find the pass, but I was delighted to see it find the bottom corner. He is a leftie, but we are trying to get him to become a two-footed player.
“Josh has been telling me for a while that he’s a two-footed player and now I might start believing things he tells me – fully deserved that first goal.
“With the second, Theo [Williams] deserved it. He ran so much today and that was for me a first team level in terms of the intensity and press that he did throughout. He is putting so much into his game, and it was just great to see his quality today as he’s worked so hard – now that’s two in two for him so long may it continue.”
On Nathan Pond’s performance…
“The whole reason for Pondy to be in the role he is in that he can help the younger players off the pitch in training, but also on the pitch so they can make the right decisions.
“We’ve seen Tom Huddlestone play for Manchester United’s Development Squad and others in a similar role up and down the country, so for Pondy to do the player / coach role and for Fleetwood to have the legend at 38 years old.
“Testaments to him for his performance today, it’s always nice to work alongside him and to see his banner in the stands today, it’s so beneficial for the players as I said to have him coaching on the pitch in the way he does."
On learning from the experience playing at Highbury...
“It was great to have a crowd in today and I believe that in the new programme, Clubs have to play five matches at the first team stadium and that will help the young players get used to the environment, getting use to a new setup and to also get away from the sanitised Academy setup that you may find.
“Today we did team talks down in the dugouts and that’s new to all of us and it’s a learning curve for us. My little lad was in the crowd today and for everyone to get involved, it was a really good day!”