Teenage striker delighted with first professional goal.
An 87th minute goal that added an extra smattering of gloss to an unassailable four goal lead, may not ever have been celebrated with as much elation, as what Mason Bennett demonstrated on Saturday.
However, that late strike against Tranmere Rovers in the Third Round of the FA Cup meant so much more to the Rams’ Academy graduate, and his teammates for that matter.
As at 16-years and 176 days old, Bennett’s first goal for the club also meant he became Derby County’s youngest ever goalscorer, eclipsing Lee Holmes’ effort against Coventry City in 2003, who was 16-years and 207 days at the time.
Bennett already holds the record as the Rams’ youngest ever player, after he started against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium last season, at the age of 15 years and 99 days.
And following a weekend the England Under-17 international will not forget in a hurry, Bennett says that he hopes becoming Derby’s youngest ever goal-scorer is not the only record he breaks during his time with the Rams.
He said:
"The ball got trapped under my feet and I thought I was going to lose it. But I opened up in a bit of space and thought: 'I've just got to hit it and hope for the best'."The ‘keeper got a touch to it but, thankfully, it went in, and after I scored I didn't know what to do - I was just running around like crazy!“It was great to score and as a forward, I want to start scoring more goals now. “It's good to get another record and, hopefully, I can get some more! It's nice to get the opportunity and I'm happy that the Gaffer has put me out there."Hopefully, after this, I can get a few more chances off the bench. All I can do is keep working hard and do my best - and hope the Gaffer picks me.”The 2012/13 campaign is Bennett’s first as a professional, having risen through the ranks with the Rams, and the 16-year-old admits he is reaping the benefits of full-time training with the first-team this season.
He added:
“It's been great to work on my technical ability.
"It's good to be around the boys day in, day out; I definitely feel fitter and my skill and technical levels are improving massively.
"The team are on fire at the moment, especially the forwards - Conor Sammon and Michael Jacobs - so I've just got to be patient and wait for my turn.”
