Midfielder Paul McAreavey was happy to have enjoyed almost 75 minutes in a Town shirt.

He said: "It was great to be out there and felt I did okay.

"It was an important match and I'm glad the gaffer gave me the chance.

"We worked hard and now we have to keep it going and try and get a result at Colchester on New Year's Day."

The Northern Ireland man accepts that Christmas is a testing time for players but the rewards are there for all to see.

He said: "It's part of the job. Players nowadays, even in this division, earn a fair amount of money and you get a longer summer off than most people. You've just got to do what you have to do."

Skipper Alan Reeves believes Colchester United is certainly not a mission impossible trip.

He said: "We got a great result there last year and I think if we put together another battling performance then there's no reason why we can't have a repeat performance.

"A win there would certainly give everyone a real lift going into the New Year.

"We're a few points behind Colchester but a win would really put us right on their tails."