Colchester United match-winner Junior Tchamadeu on vital goal

The 18-year-old raised the South Stand roof at the JobServe Community Stadium after he came off the bench to net a superb first professional goal and earn the U's a vital 1-0 victory.

Tchamadeu blasted home from just inside the area in the fifth minute of stoppage-time to earn Colchester victory.

And the teenager says it was a moment he will not forget in a hurry.

Tchamadeu said: "It was a great feeling to score my first goal.

"Words can't describe how I feel.

"It was a huge moment for me and my family - my Dad was here and he's helped me throughout my career so far - but also for the team and the club.

"Hopefully, it's the first of many.

"The most important thing was getting good contact on the ball and getting it on target.

"You never know where it'll end up and luckily for me, it's ended up in the back of the net.

"I felt like I had to wait until it hit the back of the net, to be honest.

"As soon as it left my foot, I knew it had a good chance because of the contact I got on the ball.

"I was caught in several minds about how I should celebrate!

"I was going to take off my shirt but I slipped so I just ran around!

"It's a great feeling when all of the boys are congratulating you and that's the togetherness that we've got, as a team.

"Everyone is supporting each other and that's all we need."

Tchamadeu popped up in the Tranmere area to smash home Alan Judge's pass, to win it for Colchester.

The teenager has established himself as a right-back but has been used in more attacking positions, under interim head coach Wayne Brown.

"In the last couple of games, I've been playing in a more advanced position, on the right wing, right midfield," said Tchamadeu, who became Colchester's youngest-ever starting debutant as a 16-year-old in December, 2020.

"I feel in that position, I'm getting a lot of opportunities to take people on and shoot.

"It's something I've been working on with other players and they've been getting on to me, to keep doing more.

"It's obviously paid off with me getting in more advanced areas.

"I watched the video of when I hit the post (against Forest Green) three days straight thinking 'what if it went in?'

"But you can't really dwell on it too much - it's gone in (against Tranmere) and that's all that matters.

"It's always been in my game and I feel like even in training when we play the games, I like to play in more advanced areas.

"I learn from the other players and how they finish in training has helped me a lot."

Tchamadeu has had to be content with coming off the bench for Colchester of late, having been a regular starter prior to that.

The former Charlton Athletic trainee has not started for the U's for eight matches but says he is determined to seize his opportunity, when it comes along.

He said: "Not being in the squad has made me work even harder for moments like this, to make sure I'm ready so that when the gaffer does put me on, I take my chance.

"I feel as though I did that."

Colchester's win over Tranmere has lifted them 11 points clear of the League Two relegation zone, with seven games remaining.

The U's head to Harrogate Town this weekend knowing that league safety is now in their grasp.

Tchamadeu added: "It was a huge win for us and it's one that has been coming for a long time.

"Results haven't gone our way but we got the win.

"It was a big reward for the fans; they've been with us throughout the whole of the season.

"Results haven't always gone our way but they've stuck with us and it's a big reward for all of their efforts to help us, as a team.

"We do tend to look at the table but only once our job is done.

"Most importantly, we have to focus on ourselves and getting three points."