Gary Brabin admitted he was delighted to see Jon Challinor score the late winning goal against Lewes on Tuesday evening, and he revealed that he had encouraged the midfielder go in search of goals before the game.

"He was outstanding last night," Brabin told cambridgeunited.com

"He's a good honest player with an eye for goal and he works his socks off, and he's been a great signing for the club, but I had a little word with him before the game because I thought at York he fell below his standards. I told him I wanted him back to those standards and I wanted him getting in the box, because I've seen his finishing in training and I couldn't believe he hadn't got on the scoresheet.

"Before the game I actually had a feeling he was going to score, and I didn't care who got the winner but it was very pleasing for Jon and myself and I'm delighted he's got off the mark."

Challinor's strike came in the first minute of stoppage time after a dogged Lewes side and a picky referee had conspired to frustrate United's aims to play open attacking football.

Acknowledging the Lewes game plan to defend deep and waste time as the game wore on, the U's boss commented, "They got everyone behind the ball to defend, which they did well and it worked for them, but I was made up with our lads' attitude.

"We never stopped trying and that shows the character in the squad. In the last two games here we've kept going and we've deservedly got wins late in the game, and that shows the levels of fitness and concentration and the willingness to win in this squad."

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