FREDDIE Sears says he was delighted to score Colchester United’s winner at Leyton Orient – and end his self-described ‘goal drought’.

The U’s top scorer hit his 13th goal of the season in his side’s 1-0 triumph at Brisbane Road, ending a three-match run without hitting the net.

Sears, 32, has been in fine scoring form this season for Colchester and is now League Two’s joint sixth-highest scorer, with ten goals.

Sears said: “I feel like I’ve been on a bit of a goal drought, over the last three games!

“But I’m delighted to get the goal and the win as well.

“I’m probably being a little harsh on myself but I probably should have scored the other night (against Rochdale).

“I’m on 13 and I genuinely believe I should be on 16 or 17.

“I love scoring goals and as soon as I play down the middle, that’s what happens.

“As you come into a club, double figures is always the aim for a striker.

“20 is what I want to be hitting and if you had said 13 goals right now, I’d probably have taken that at the start of the season.”

Gazette:

Sears’ early strike sealed a fine win for the U’s at Leyton Orient in front of nearly 1,000 of their supporters, extending their unbeaten run to four matches.

The former West Ham United striker said: “I’ve been at this club for a long time and these are the games you look forward to.

“It’s a local derby and you know that there’s going to be a good backing.

“From minute one in the warm-up, they were brilliant and it’s down to us to get the result.

“The fans are cheering us on and it’s down to us to go and perform, which we’re doing at the minute.

“I love coming to play (at Leyton Orient) – we get the extra fans and I’ve won here a few times before, with Col U.

“The atmosphere afterwards just shows what it means to everyone at the football club.”

Gazette:

Sears struck Colchester’s winner at Leyton Orient in the fourth minute, finishing well from just inside the area from Corie Andrews’ pass.

He said: “It was real good play for the goal.

“We worked on it a bit (on Friday) and the goal was similar to what we were trying to do, getting runs in the right areas, get the ball in the box and thankfully, it flew in the back of the net.

“As I hit it, I knew it had a chance and it was a good connection.

“I think with those balls bobbling across the box, you’ve got to get a firm connection.

“The keeper has probably seen it late and it’s in the net, so that’s all that matters.”