Macauley Bonne says his confidence has ‘hit the roof’ after his goal boosted Colchester United’s play-off hopes.

Bonne came off the bench at Leyton Orient to score his first league goal of the season for the U’s, in their crucial 3-1 victory at Brisbane Road.

The 21-year-old has found game time hard to come by at Colchester over recent months and has had to be content with a place among the substitutes at best.

But Bonne’s well-taken strike at Orient – his first senior U’s goal since November – has given him a big lift.

And the Zimbabwe international says he is glad to have seized his opportunity after coming on as a late substitute, last weekend.

Bonne told the Daily Gazette: “It’s not really gone my way over the past month or two and I’ve been on the bench and in the stands but I just said to myself ‘I’ve got to take my opportunity when it comes’.

“I think (at Leyton Orient) I took my chance when I got it.

“I always go for a goal when I’m on the pitch but I’ve had so much go on that I’ve needed it for myself personally and it’s really helped my confidence, which has just hit the roof.

“It was a striker’s finish – in the box, head down, hit it hard and low and it went in the back of the net, so I’m happy.

“If chances like that come along, you can’t not take them.

“I had to take the opportunity to show what I can do and hopefully, I did that.”

Bonne’s strike at Orient came just before a pitch invasion by hundreds of home fans protesting against owner, Francesco Becchetti.

It took two hours for the game to resume but Colchester eventually went on to record a vital win.

It has left them within a point of the League Two play-off places ahead of the final weekend.

The U’s head into their home fixture against Yeovil Town on Saturday as one of seven teams in contention for the last two available play-off spots.

“It was a massive three points for us at Leyton Orient,” said Bonne, who has spent time on loan at National League clubs Lincoln City and Woking this season.

“It could be vital come the end of the season and so could the three goals that we’ve scored.

“The pitch invasion was bizarre and I’ve never experienced anything like that.

“When I saw the supporters coming on I thought ‘I’ve got to get off this pitch’.

“Credit to the lads – we waited, got a bit moody, cheered ourselves back up and then went and got the job done.

“It’s all to play for against Yeovil this weekend and we’re all ready for the game.”