DEFENDER Tom Gould was a happy man after putting his injury woes behind him with the Bluebirds' second goal in Saturday's 3-0 win over lowly Ilkeston Town.

The centre back's firm header on 64 minutes gave the home side some vital breathing space and was his first goal for the club since a summer move from University outfit Team Bath.

Said Gould: "It is always nice to score. It doesn't matter who scores, really, but it was good that it was me.

"I just shut my eyes, and the ball hit my head and flew in. Harry's corner was so good and I couldn't really miss.

"We needed the second one just to kill them off. Against Weymouth and Grantham we went 1-0 up and couldn't get the second, but we did it against Havant and again on Saturday."

The 22-year-old, who missed the first four games of the season after breaking his wrist against Yeovil Town, was delighted with Saturday's performance .

He said: "Every player played ever so well. The games keep coming thick and fast, but everyone is well happy with the way it is going."

Gould's goal was the first by a Bluebirds defender this term, and he is hoping to add to his tally before the season is out. He said: "I notched a few at Team Bath because I had a couple of games as a forward. I'm usually good for six or seven a season, but I'd be happy with another two this year."

The defender's strike made up for the disappointment of being left out of the starting line-up for last week's 3-1 victory over Havant and Waterlooville.

Gould had made his first league start alongside Shane Andrews at Grantham four days previously, but made way for fit-again skipper Gareth Davies and was forced to settle for a place on the bench. But Gould replaced Andrews in the second half after the former Clevedon defender suffered a nasty head injury, and kept his place on Saturday.

He said: "I'm always disappointed when I'm not playing. I've been chewing my nails during every game and that hasn't been easy with the plaster on my arm.

"But I could understand the manager's thinking. Shane Andrews had played well for three games and I'd come in and had one good game.

"Gareth Davies is too good a player to leave on the bench, so I understood totally. It was just unlucky that Shane got a bang on the head against Havant. It seems that, when one defender gets back, another one goes again."

"It will be interesting when all three of us and Colin Towler are fit again who plays. But I'll just keep doing my best and hopefully I'll be okay."