Anthony Tonkin scored his first goal for Cambridge United in Saturday's FA Cup defeat at home to York City, but would have exchanged the goal for a place in the third round draw.
His 82nd minute powerful long-range strike halved York's lead and set up a grandstand finish to a game that United dominated, and which Tonkin also feels points the way to a bright future for the club.
"I don't score many but I'd happily swap today's goal for someone else bagging a couple and us still being in the cup," said the 29-year-old.
"To be fair, other than the spell around their goals we dominated the game and a replay was the least that we deserved. The referee hasn't had the best of games and their tactic of hitting the deck after every contact worked for them.
"It's just so gutting after putting them under so much pressure and getting nothing from the match - it takes the gloss off my goal."
Describing the goal, he added, "For once their lad didn't get much distance on his header out, and in training we work on half-volleys from clearances so I just hit it. I didn't think it had gone in at first, with it hitting the post and then the other post. If it had stayed out it would have summed up our day.
"The last goal I scored was back playing for Yeovil against Leigh R.M.I. and Mark Beesley reminds me of it in training," he revealed. "Every time I have a shot he shouts 'Leigh R.M.I.' at me... I suppose that changes to York from now on!"
Tonkin believes the strong United performance should point the way to better performances in the forthcoming games, and he also sees great promise in the younger members of the squad.
Sam Ives made his senior debut in midfield, partnered by 20-year-old Rory McAuley (above), and Tonks noted, "Hopefully we can take the improved performance into this week's games and get the league form back on track.
"Today does show the depth we have in the squad; both the young lads have come in and not looked out of place. They've both got the ball down well, got stuck in and worked really hard.
"And it's not just those two; there's Darryl Coakley, Jordan Patrick - who hasn't featured yet but has come on leaps and bounds in training - and then we have Adam Marriott, who is a very talented player.
"There's more to follow them from the youth team and CRC, so if we take one thing out of this game it's that the future of the club looks good, and if we can match this performance with league wins those lads can play a big part in us getting the season back on track."
Interview by David Gray
[Match report] [Fixture list]
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