PARIS Cowan-Hall says it was a ‘dream come true’ to bag a brace on his first-ever start for Colchester United.

The 28-year-old attacker scored twice in the U’s 3-2 triumph at Gillingham in their opening Leasings.com Trophy Group A game, on Tuesday night.

After joining from Wycombe Wanderers earlier this summer, Cowan-Hall has experienced a frustrating start to his Colchester career, after being sidelined with a calf strain in the opening weeks of the season.

But after making three substitute appearances for John McGreal’s side, the former Millwall man made a big impact in his first start, against the Gills.

And he is now hoping to make up for lost time at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Cowan-Hall said: “To score a couple of goals on my first start for Colchester is a dream come true.

“It was nice to finally get a start, score a couple of goals and win.

“It was frustrating to be injured after joining a new club, especially as I’d gone through the whole of pre-season and did all the running!

“I’ve had a little bit of a calf strain, which was very annoying.

“It took a couple of weeks for me to get match fit and get involved in the squad but now I am and I’m hoping to kick on.”

Cowan-Hall fired Colchester ahead in the eighth minute at Gillingham and netted again just after the hour, to effectively seal his side’s win.

“One was a bit of a poacher’s goal and the second one was from nice play from a few of the boys,” said Cowan-Hall, who has more than 200 league appearances during the course of his career.

“(Kwame) Poku got the assist as well and he’s only 18 on his full debut, so I’m very pleased for him.

“The goal came from some very nice play and that’s what we do here.

“That kind of play is what we’re about and we practice it a lot in training.

“We’re very fluid with people changing positions and everyone is very comfortable on the ball.

“With that in the final third, the gaffer likes us to come alive with one twos and give and goes and sooner or later, you’d like to think that it will lead to goals, assists and corners.

“It’s always nice to score but it’s mainly about the win – we were resilient at the end and saw it out.”