FORMER England striker Dean Ashton highlighted the key contribution of two Colchester United players following their victory over Tranmere Rovers.

Junior Tchamadeu came off the bench to score a 95th-minute winner - his first-ever professional goal - for the U's to secure them an important three points in their League Two clash, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Prior to that, goalkeeper Shamal George made a spectacular save to deny Tranmere's Elliott Nevitt, to keep the visitors out.

Speaking on the EFL on Quest show, former West Ham United and England striker Ashton said of Tchamadeu's spectacular strike: "You've been on the field for six minutes and you just hammer a side-foot in.

"What a wonderful celebration, as you would expect from a young lad.

 

"That'll give him massive confidence, as a young player.

"You just don't know how important that goal is, for Colchester.

"They're down there, they don't want to be sucked back in and a young kid comes on and gets you a winner and they (can) just finish the season hopefully now without too much stress."

Ashton also had praise for keeper George.

He said: "What a save this is by Shamal George.

"These are the saves that sometimes do go unnoticed for goalkeepers."

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Tchamadeu's last-gasp strike sparked jubilant scenes both on and off the field, for Colchester.

It was a big moment for the U's in the context of their season and in their ongoing battle to remain in League Two.

Oxford United manager Karl Robinson said the celebrations showed how much the goal meant to everyone connected to Colchester.

The ex-MK Dons and Charlton Athletic boss, also speaking on the Quest highlights show on Saturday evening, said: "This is why we love football.

"Even though you're playing and managing, we're all in this industry...this is the bit that we love.

"It's last-minute goals, it's fans celebrating, it's players going wild.

"It just shows you what our game means to us, in our country.

"When you see stuff like that, especially with a young player as well, it doesn't half bring a smile to your face."