Colchester United youngster Chay Cooper scored on his league debut

The 20-year-old midfielder marked his maiden EFL appearance with a stunning goal in the U's 2-0 triumph at Hartlepool United.

Cooper scored with a magnificent long-range shot at Victoria Park, just minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute for Alan Judge.

And the skilful midfielder, who joined Colchester last September after being released by Spurs, admits it is a feeling he will remember forever.

Cooper said: "It's the best feeling I've ever had.

"The hard work put in on the pitch, it's the moment I've been dreaming for since I was a kid.

"To score and on my league debut as well, it's the best feeling ever.

"My main aim was to just get on make my league debut but to get my first goal as well was absolutely brilliant.

"I can't even put into words what happened.

"I didn't think I'd be coming on in the first place, let alone coming on to score.

"It was my debut and I thought 'let's take a risk'.

"I back myself to score and I back my ability.

"I try to do it as much as I can in training and luckily, I got to do it on the pitch.

"They say the way you train is the way you play and lately, I've been doing it in training and in games.

"I've scored a few for the 23s lately and I feel that's helped my confidence.

"I scored one the other week against Peterborough and I took it into this game.

"It was two great runs which opened the shot for me.

"I've hit it and caught it well and luckily, it's gone in the back of the net.

"But if it wasn't for the two runs, I don't think I'd have had time to get the shot away, so it was a good decision in the end!

"I'm happy I could do that and do it for the fans as well.

"Just before I came on, Joe (Dunne) and the gaffer said to me 'enjoy it and if you get a goal make sure you go to the fans' and that's what I did.

"I celebrated with the team and I saw the fans going for wild and I was in the moment and I loved it.

"I'll remember it forever.

"Now it's my job now to keep kicking on and help the team out and hopefully, get many more and keep giving the fans more moments like that!"

Cooper has played two FA Cup games and two Papa John's Trophy matches since joining Colchester, at the start of the campaign.

He has been a regular for their under-23s in their Professional Development League team and scored in their 2-2 draw with Peterborough United, last week.

"It's been a long season, a tough season," added Cooper, who had made four cup appearances for the U's this season prior to his league debut.

"The boys have been excellent with me and the gaffer for giving me the chance.

"It was up to me to come onto the pitch and show him what I could do.

"Our job was to get the three points and luckily, we did that.

"That was the main thing.

"The team has been absolutely excellent and the performances have been, too.

"Hopefully, we can push on next season and go even higher in the table."