YOUNG talent in the Lowlands Wanderers first grade team has helped a hard transition to Nepean Football Association’s Premier League.
The Wanderers moved up to Nepean’s top grade this season, and has been competitive, but unable to string together many wins.
While it has been tough, the Wanderers are ecstatic that young players like Brandon Diaz and Hayden Lane has been stamping their authority in the playing group.
Diaz, 21, has been vice-captain all season, but with the regular captain absent, he stepped up to lead his team around the park against Blaxland FC on June 26.
“It is a bit surreal, I'm 21 right now so you don't really expect to captain the side,” he said.
“There are men older than you and you are competing against older men too, which is a bit strange but I take it as it comes.”
Diaz has a decent football pedigree behind him. He played representative football at Springwood, but also spent a year playing college football in the United States.
“It was a great experience. It was really professional,” he said.
“We trained five times a week, and playing games as well, it was a really packed season, about 18 games in three months.
“I was a lot faster when I came back. They have a lot of Mexicans in their team, and they have very fast feet, the ball is on a string for them.
“You have to really pay attention to what they are doing or they will run past you, the pace of the game is so fast.”
Lane, 17, walked into the club at the start of the season, after playing five seasons of representative football with Nepean.
The young striker from Freemans Reach has proved a hit, netting a number of goals so far this season, though he admits he wished he could have hit more.
“I am enjoying it so far. We're competitive in the season, and I don't feel like we deserve a lot of the losses we've had to be honest,” he said.
Lane’s move has made his life a lot easier.
“Premier league is a lot less intense than what I was used to,” he said
“I can't find a massive difference to be honest. Defenders are just as hard to beat, but they are often a lot bigger.
“I also started an apprenticeship this year and I couldn't keep up with late training and all the games we had on the weekend.”
