Jace Holloway had taken his first real step as a Brighton academy player.
Scoring in his first official league match had been a dream start.
Because it wasn't easy to score for your team in the first match ever playing with them.
But football didn't stop.
It didn't wait for you to enjoy your victories.
The next game was already on the horizon.
And now, Jace had expectations to meet.
Could he keep this up?
Or would the pressure get to him?
The next week at training, Jace noticed something different.
The way his teammates looked at him had changed.
This made him think a lot Because what if they looked at him because of something bad but later on realised it was because of the goal?
He wasn't just a trialist anymore.
He was a goal scorer.
A difference-maker.
That meant defenders marked him tighter in training to make him more uncomfortable.
It meant the coaching staff watched him more closely.
It meant he had to keep delivering.
No excuses.
Jace's next test came in a full-intensity training match.
The coaches had mixed the first-team reserves with the U18 squad.
That meant Jace was up against stronger, more experienced players.
And it showed.
Because they were actually playing like masters.
Early in the match, Jace tried to dribble past a senior academy defender.
He didn't even make it past his first touch.
The defender stepped in, took the ball cleanly, and shoved Jace off balance.
Jace hit the ground.
"Too soft," the defender said as he jogged away.
Jace clenched his fists.
If he wanted to compete at this level, he had to be stronger.
After training, Coach Barker pulled Jace aside.
"How's it feeling going against the reserves?"
Jace exhaled. "Tough. They don't give you space."
The coach nodded. "That's football at the top level. You need to be sharper. Stronger. Smarter."
Jace nodded.
He wasn't going to argue.
The game was getting faster.
And if he didn't improve, he'd be left behind.
A few days later, Brighton travelled to face Fulham's academy—one of the best in the country.
This time, Jace was in the starting lineup.
A huge step forward.
But from the opening whistle, he realized—
This was different.
Fulham was aggressive and actually played a tactical game.
They pressed high, forcing mistakes.
Jace barely got a touch in the first fifteen minutes.
Then, in the 20th minute—
A pass came to him in midfield.
Two defenders rushed him immediately.
Jace panicked.
He tried to take a touch—too slow.
A Fulham player stole the ball and launched a counterattack.
Seconds later, Brighton conceded a goal.
Jace buried his face in his hands.
This wasn't good enough enough.
At halftime, Jace sat in the dressing room, frustrated.
Then, Coach Barker spoke.
"Jace, stop waiting for the game to come to you. Impose yourself."
Jace met his eyes.
He knew what he had to do.
The second half started.
Jace adjusted.
Instead of waiting for space, he created it.
Dropping deeper.
Finding pockets between defenders.
Then, in the 70th minute—his moment arrived.
A quick one-two with a teammate sent him through on goal.
The keeper rushed out.
Jace chipped it over him.
The ball hit the net.
Goal.
A redemption goal.
Brighton fought back to draw 1-1.
Jace had struggled, but he'd found a way.
And that's what football was about.
Not perfection.
But adaptation.
And Jace was learning faster than expected.