Chris Holroyd scored his first U's hat-trick as Cambridge United overcame a 2-0 deficit to win Saturday's match at Chester 4-2.
Mistakes at the back gifted Chester a 2-0 lead inside the first 20 minutes, but Holroyd's penalty and a Robbie Willmott free kick just before half-time levelled the scores and Holroyd's scored twice in the second half to settle the game against relegated City.
"It wasn't the greatest of starts and looking like it was going to be one of those days," he admitted afterwards.
"The lads are disappointed with the mistakes that led to the goals. Chester didn't open us up, the goals were gifts, but you have to deal with it and we showed good character to come back.
"The two quick goals before half-time were vitally important; I've seen tackles like the one for the penalty given when committed outside the box but not inside, so it was good the ref saw it and had the conviction to award it. Jai Reason wanted to take it but I always want to take them and he was fine to let me have it.
"Thirty seconds later and Robbie has shown what a strike he has on him with the free kick. Yes, it took a deflection, but when you hit a ball like he did it has goal written all over it, deflection or no deflection."
The lads are adapting to Martin Ling and Chris confirmed that the new manager wants him to make the most of his movement and electric pace, which paid off with his two second half goals: "The gaffer wants us to play a certain way away from home. You have to adapt at times and sometimes you have to play it over the top and relieve a bit of pressure.
"The gaffer wants me to play high up and when it comes over the top I'm the one whose job it is to run and get on the end of it. With this being Chester's first game we knew they would tire and our fitness would play a big part in the second half.
"The service in the last two games has been different class and the work Danny Crow and Parky did for the goals makes my job all that easier," he added.
"We know we are a good attacking side and although we only played to the best of our ability in spells today, we have the players to worry anybody as an attacking force."
Chris' second goal was an overhead kick after good work by Danny Crow and Andy Parkinson, while the third was an almost identical build-up but this time finished with a low shot.
"I've never scored an overhead kick before," he said, clutching the match ball. "Danny Potter says he was screaming at me to head it but I thought I'd try something different! Credit to the lads - Danny Crow came on and made an impact; his running pulled their defence all over the place, and if you give Parky a bit of room he can put the ball in places where we can damage the opposition."
With five goals in his last two matches, the 22-year-old can't wait for the next one, although he knows Crawley Town at home on Tuesday will be a different challenge to a Chester side playing their first game of the season.
"Tuesday is important," he confirmed. "We need to make the Abbey a fortress again. Against Barrow we overplayed a bit and you can't do that against the likes of Crawley, so we're looking forward to a big crowd and hopefully making amends for the opening day.
Interview by David Gray
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