Brad Young has had to be patient and wait for his chance in a Bristol Rovers shirt after signing for the Gas in the summer, but he is doing everything he can to grab his opportunity to start with two hands.
The 23-year-old had only played three games for the Pirates in Sky Bet League Two before Steve Evans put him in goal for the Gas' trip to Salford City back in January.
However, he has now started the last eight matches for Rovers in the fourth tier, keeping clean sheets against Newport County and Walsall before producing a string of top stops against Grimsby Town last time out.
Reflecting on the start of his run of games back at the Peninsula Stadium, Young suggested that Evans told him just before the match that he was going in goal, but he is now relishing his opportunity.
"I found out just before the warm-ups," he said. "We got to the ground about an hour and a half before, and he named the team, but there were conversations that were had. I didn’t know until then. I found out then and stuck with it and went.
"It’s nice getting a run in the team because early in the season, Luke has gone away on internationals, it’s been hard coming in and out and getting a rhythm. Now that I’ve got a rhythm and played a few games under my belt, I am feeling a lot more confident, I’m growing and hopefully showing what I’m about now.
"I control the controllables. I do my work through the week. I work hard with James Bittner, who has been really good for me, especially when I wasn’t playing, and he’s always made sure that I was ticking on nicely and getting what I needed out of training and making sure I was ready when called upon. It’s been nice, but one game at a time. Day in and day out, working hard.
"As a goalkeeper, you need rhythm, game after game, and it’s harder coming in on that odd game and playing, but now I’m getting scenarios and everything and pictures are coming up and forming each week, I’m definitely feeling more confident.”
Just as Young said, rhythm is vital for a goalkeeper, and it proved pivotal for the shot-stopper in the Pirates' last game against Grimsby. With the Pirates 3-1 ahead going into the final few minutes of the contest, the Mariners were pushing for a goal that would give them all the momentum going into stoppage time.
It looked like Grimsby had got the goal they had been searching for when experienced forward Andy Cook planted a downward header from close range on target, but Young got down to his right quickly to push it away.
The goalkeeper knew how important that save was, as it helped the Gas end a three-game losing streak and claim all of the points at The Memorial Stadium.
"I enjoyed any save, to be fair," said Young. " I think the last one [was my favourite] because there were five or six minutes left from the header and a couple of the lads mentioned it, saying that if that goes in, it’s a nervy five or six minutes, and they were on top. So, it was nice to get that, and that sort of secured us."
Young's top save was one of the final acts in a fantastic team performance against Grimsby. The Gas started quickly, netting the opening through a brilliant volley from Kofi Balmer before Joe Quigley added a second. Cook got one back for the Mariners, but Yusuf Akhamrich's fourth goal for Rovers helped the Pirates to their third win in four outings at The Mem.
After a difficult time at BS7, it is starting to turn into a fortress, with Young pinpointing what has changed.
"Moments have been big for us," said the goalkeeper. "A lot of moments maybe went against us. You look back to the Notts County game where the lad has taken a shot, and it’s deflected and gone in. We lost the game 1-0 after controlling it. Moments are turning, and we gained a bit more of a foothold in games.
"Quigley mentioned it after the weekend, scoring first has been very important. Two early goals on Saturday give you that confidence, and you’re like ‘we’ve got something here’. I think that’s a thing maybe earlier where we have struggled, and we haven’t maybe taken our chances early in games. Then, you concede, and you’re on the backfoot. Moments have definitely been the key to the successful home form."
Swindon Town is up next for the Gas in what is a local derby at the Nigel Eady County Ground. The Pirates have shown flashes of brilliance under Evans, with Young now looking to pull performances and points together more consistently.
"Every game is huge, especially looking at the weekend now with the derby game, but I think, as a group, we need to get that consistency," he said. "It’s no good being up here one week and dropping right down the next. We need to get a consistency level, performances and results, and get more points on the board. It’s not over until it’s over. So, one game at a time, definitely.
"It should be a feisty game. Obviously, it’s a local derby, and I’m looking forward to it. I’m sure we’ll have a great backing, the fans have been brilliant, and it’s a game that I’m looking forward to."
