Exeter City's George Birch says he is trying not to let his goal against Manchester City "get to his head".
George Birch says he is trying not to let his goal against Manchester City "get to his head".
The 19-year-old Exeter City midfielder scored the goal of the game in the 10-1 loss in the FA Cup third round last weekend.
With the League One side 9-0 down, Birch carried the ball from midfield before blasting into the top corner with his weaker left foot from outside the penalty area.
It was the highlight of a difficult afternoon for the Devon side as they were outclassed by a star-studded Premier League outfit.
"I don't really let any of it get to my head as much as I can," Birch told BBC South West.
"It is funny how it's such a little moment, like it's just five seconds, but for it to be such a big thing, it's something I can build on.
"I picked up the ball earlier in that sort of position and cut onto my right and played it out wide, and I was thinking 'I probably should have maybe done a bit more'.
"When I did get it again, I was being shown onto my left and when I moved to my left I saw there was no option so I thought I might as well just hit it."
Having "just hit it", Birch took the adulation around the Etihad Stadium and had opponents like Rayan Cherki pat him on the back as James Trafford picked the ball out of the net.
"Playing against players that I did is a really good confidence booster," Birch said.
"It makes me feel like I can do it at that level, so that's really going to push me on confidence-wise.
"I remember Bernardo Silva came up to me after the game and was like 'what a goal' and obviously Cherki as I was running back, that was such a good feeling.
"I was on the pitch, I was seeing Cherki try to rainbow flick someone. Seeing idols like that, it's unreal when they congratulate my goal."
It thrust Birch into the limelight as the teenager saw his goal shown around the world.
The youngster, who signed his first professional contract last May, says his focus now is to try to build on the moment and add to the five first-team games he has played in so far.
"It's no doubt the best moment of my life so far," he said. "I am trying to take it in my stride.
"Just getting as many minutes as I can. Ideally goals and assists because that's what I want to base my game around.
"Man City is a great moment, but hopefully I can use that moment to get into the first team here."
Category: General Sports
