Eric Kinder spoke to us about the Youth draw at Tranmere shortly after full time yesterday:

"We played very well this afternoon. It was near perfect conditions for a football match, with a fantastic pitch and decent weather. It suited us and it suited the way we like to play. It meant that we could pass it and get our game going. We like to move it around quickly, but we need a good surface to do that.

Tranmere are a good side, to be fair to them. They have some decent players, and they play some good football. We went in to the game at a high tempo, but we went behind to what I would describe as a very strange goal. He looked well offside to me, but the Assistant kept his flag down and it was given. That meant that we were behind at half time, and we probably didn't play as well as I would have liked in that first 45 minutes.

That changed after the break, because we dominated the second half. The lads were outstanding. Andy Hardman got brought down in the box, and it was a clear penalty, and he had the confidence to stand up and take it himself.

Gary Madine then hit the bar, and we had a really tight offside decision go against Connor Tinnion when he was going one on one with the keeper, so he was unlucky with that. Really, with the way we played, we feel that we should have won. I'm delighted with what we did, though, because we have played really well. I have no real complaints at all, because all we want from them is for them to play as well as they can.

It was good to see the standard of the pitch when we got there. I looked at the lads, and their eyes lit up, because it was exactly the kind of surface they like to play on. It was good for the lads to get on to a pitch like that, and it ended up being a really good game to watch. We've also had the chance to look at some of the schoolboys, with Jonny Blake getting his first full 90 minutes with me in charge, and he played exceptionally well. Connor Tinnion has another good one under his belt, Michael Dowson was on for us, and we've watched Gary Madine continue to go from strength to strength. He has carried a bit of a knock, but you just can't get the lad off the pitch. It's great to see from all of them.

I think we've said before, we're looking forward to next season, and we know that if we get a good surface then we can play some really good football. Long term, we want these lads to break in to the Reserves. If they ultimately want to impress the manager, that is when they have to play well. When I push them forward as a potential Reserve team player, they have to be ready to take the chance. If they can play on a superb surface like the one at Brunton Park, then they'll be showing the Boss just how good they are. That's what I want to see most.

We have already seen Steven, Gary, Browny, Woody, and a few others, step up and show what they can do. Sometimes they play better in the Reserves than they do for me. In some cases, it's actually an age thing. The more senior Youth players get that buzz from playing with the first team pro's, and that's exactly the way it should be.

Their bread and butter may well be what they do for me on a Saturday, but I tell them week after week that I would prefer not to see them. I would prefer it if they weren't available, because that would mean they have made it in to the first team squad. I don't care how old they are, that doesn't come in to it, because if they are good enough, then they will make it work. The best example at the moment is Shaun Vipond. I don't see him any more and, in fact, I haven't done for about 3 weeks. That's great for him, but it means just as much to me as a Youth coach. My Youth team captain is now a first team squad member, and that is exactly what I want to keep happening for as long as I am here with these players.

If I lose 5 or 6 players to the first team next season, and even if it means that our youngsters lose by 5 or 6 goals every week, then I won't be too bothered. The bigger picture will be that we are finding good young players and getting them through. I'll be happy with that."

Team: Carson, Brown, Wordsworth (Combe), Stewart, M Blake, Dowson, J Blake, Wood (Hoban), Hardman (Tinnion), Madine, Hindmarch.