David Wootton was justifiably proud after producing an eye-catching display in West Ham United's penalty shootout defeat at Chelsea on Tuesday.
Wootton was in inspirational form against the Blues, making a succession of outstanding saves to keep the Hammers in the game and help Nick Haycock's side to earn a 3-3 draw and take the game to spot-kicks. There, the 18-year-old had no chance to save any of the penalties as Chelsea won through 5-4 in the shootout.
The Essex-based goalkeeper has been back-up to Jake Larkins for much of the season, but was forced into action at Staines Town FC after the regular No1 was ruled out with a groin injury.
Wootton, who joined West Ham at the age of 14 and has been out on loan at Southampton and Barnet in recent months, produced fantastic stops from Todd Kane, John Swift, Lucas Piazon, Amin Affane and Adam Nditi.
"It went well for me personally," he told West Ham TV. "I made a few good saves and I kicked well, but on a team note it didn't. I enjoyed the game but I'm pretty gutted to lose.
"Jake was playing up until ten o'clock on Tuesday morning - it's mad how it works in football sometimes - so I didn't know I was playing until about eleven or 12 o'clock. It was nice to play in the Youth Cup for West Ham, which was good, and I took advantage of the situation and did well.
"I couldn't really do a lot with the goals, they weren't really my fault. Chelsea were quite good in the first half and they put us under a lot of pressure, but I was in the right place at the right time to make the saves.
"We'd done a bit of homework on them, actually, and watched DVDs but they've gone the other way to the way they did in the Norwich game [in the previous round]. They were quite good penalties to be fair, so I couldn't really do a lot when they put them in the top corner.
"It was unlucky and hard to take, but you move on, don't you? It is the first penalty shootout I've lost! I was two out of two before Tuesday. It was a bit disappointing to lose my record but it happens."
A second-year scholar, Wootton is now targeting a professional contract for next season - as well as a return to winning ways against Portsmouth in the FA Premier Academy League on Saturday.
"With Jake being injured, I've played the last five or six games and I've done well and been pleased with myself. A professional contract would be nice - that's the main goal and would be the ideal situation but I've got to keep working hard and playing well and see where it takes me.
"We've got Portsmouth on Saturday and we want to try to push for the title. It's just about picking ourselves up for that game."