Colchester star happy to get off the mark against Northampton

The 21-year-old was a thorn in the side of Northampton throughout the game as he won the penalty that Freddie Sears converted in the first half after slipping past his defender with a lovely bit of skill.

Chilvers then turned finisher as Frank Nouble was the provider for the U's second goal as he perfectly placed his shot into the corner of the goal after being found by the substitute in the second half.

Noah Chilvers (left) celebrates his goal against Northampton, credit Richard Blaxall / Photerior

However, he did not show the same precision in the closing moments of the match in which he had the chance to bring Colchester level for a third time of the match.

The attacker was through on goal but could not squeeze his effort past Lee Burge, as the U's went down to a defeat in the season's curtain raiser.

After the game, Chilvers told the media: "We are gutted in the changing room, we had grown into the game and we had the better chances in the match, so there are plenty of positives to take, but it was not to get anything from the game.

"I should have scored, but yeah not much more to say, I should have scored so I am a bit frustrated at myself there.

"I think at times it was a bit of a scrappy game, so I was trying to do what I could when I had the opportunity and I think I did that when I won the penalty and scoring the goal after some good work from Frank [Nouble].

"I think we showed a good shape and we were hard to play through, and they found it difficult to create chances besides the first goal.

"It was the first game of the season and we have come here with our game plan, and we have scored two goals and it is not often you score two away from home and not get something from the game, so at this stage of the season having the performance we are confident the points will come.

"That was my goal [getting his first game of the season] coming into the game was to get off the mark, so I was really happy to do that."