DOUBLE-goal hero Neil Danns was overjoyed to have earned Colchester United a last-gasp winner, at the second attempt, against Stockport on Saturday.Midfielder Danns blew a great chance to net the winner in the first minute of injury-time, but he atoned for his miss by hitting the target just a minute later to seal a 2-1 victory.

DOUBLE-goal hero Neil Danns was overjoyed to have earned Colchester United a last-gasp winner, at the second attempt, against Stockport on Saturday.

Midfielder Danns blew a great chance to net the winner in the first minute of injury-time, but he atoned for his miss by hitting the target just a minute later to seal a 2-1 victory.

“That's the luck that we have deserved this year,” insisted Danns.

“To be honest, I didn't think the ball was coming through to me for the first chance. I wasn't expecting it, I slipped and my head went up.

“But I'm a player who will never shirk a challenge, or a chance to get in where it hurts. I always put myself about.

“I was indebted to Wayne Brown and Pat Baldwin for my winner. Wayne hooked on and Pat flicked on. I saw a gap and turned the defender, half-volleying it in.

“I didn't know whether the ball had gone in straight away. Then I checked for offside, before running half the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of our fans. That was my longest run of the entire match!” joked Danns.

Earlier, Liverpool-born Danns had converted a penalty on the half-hour mark, to cancel out Warren Feeney's fourth-minute opener for hosts Stockport.

But despite his two-goal cameo role, former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Danns was quick to praise his team-mates for the win.

“I'm more delighted with the three points than my two goals,” revealed Danns.

“I'm just thankful that the chances fell to me today. It's always nice to score two, but hats off to the rest of the lads.

“Stockport surprised us with how they came out with all guns blazing. We were a little lackadaisical. But we then settled and took control after the penalty.

“It was always going to be me taking the penalty. Joe Keith had taken them before Craig Fagan, but I was having none of it after Craig left. Thanks to Joe for letting me have the penalty. The keeper got a hand to it, but the ball was always going in.

“Stockport turned it around in the second half. They made it into a very scrappy game, but in the end we were repaid for all our recent bad luck with the win,” added Danns.