Colchester United attacker Luke Hannant hopes to build on win

The U's claimed their first win in seven league matches and climbed out of the League Two relegation zone with the 3-0 victory, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

The victory has lifted spirits and after scoring Colchester's third goal in the win, attacker Hannant is hoping they can now build on the success.

Hannant said: "It was fully deserved and we needed it, in the position that we were in.

"Hopefully now with the manner that we've won the game and the performances that we've had, it's a turning point for us.

"I can totally understand the fans' frustration, over the last few weeks.

"They just want to see their team win games of football and get out of the position we're in.

"But hopefully against Doncaster, we gave them a good game to watch, got them off their seats and hopefully it's a turning point for us.

"With the performances that we've had recently, a win was going to have to come at some point.

"We've been playing well and training really well as well and we've just been unlucky with a few results going against us.

"But against Doncaster, we just showed just how good a team we really are, against a decent team and the three points was massive for us.

"There are small margins in games which can go either way for you.

"We've been unfortunate that we haven't had that recently but after the hard work that we've put in over the last few weeks, the boys fully deserved that.

"It was also superb throughout the whole defensive set up.

"Sam (Hornby) has not really had many saves to make and that's what the coaches wanted us to come away with, more importantly the three points but a clean sheet as well.

"There's a lot of things that go unnoticed in football, like the hard work and the running off the ball, the last-ditch tackles.

"It's not all about the glory of scoring goals - it's also about the hard work and the gritty stuff that people don't notice.

"We did that superbly against Doncaster and I feel like that has been there for us."

Hannant broke his league scoring duck for Colchester in style against Doncaster.

The 29-year-old shifted the ball onto his right foot before unleashing a superb long-range strike that flew in from 25 yards.

"I needed that goal, just to keep the confidence high," said the former Cambridge United favourite.

"My performances have been quite good.

"I've been hitting a decent standard of performance and I just needed a goal or an assist, just to keep me ticking over.

"The manner that it came was great in that it followed the two good goals before that and it topped off a good day.

"I was going to shoot with my left foot, to be fair.

"Then I thought I was a bit off balance and it could go flying over the stand!

"I just steadied myself, put it back on my right and the lads know that I like that shot in training.

"It's up there among the best I've scored in my career.

"I don't score many but when I do, they're quite good and that's up there."

Hannant's fine strike was one of three excellent goals scored by Colchester against Doncaster.

Prior to his goal, Alex Newby and Samson Tovide had netted for the U's, with equally impressive strikes.

Hannant added: "We've scored three worldy goals.

"We know Newby's got that in the locker.

"He's got that technique and I'm just happy that it's come off for him today as well.

"Samson fully deserved his goal.

"He's been working really hard all week, his performance (at Crewe) last week as well and against Doncaster.

"He's been absolutely superb for us and I'm so proud of him."