Sammie Szmodics set the ball rolling with a ninth-minute opener in Saturday’s 3-1 home win over Crawley, although the U’s attacking midfielder could have scored more than one goal.

Szmodics chalked up his 14th career goal for the U’s, and also set up the second goal for Ryan Jackson.

The 21-year-old was delighted with the win, and his own fourth goal of the season, but he wants to start scoring more than one goal per match.

“I said before the game that we needed a good start. We needed to get at them, and I managed to score after only nine minutes,” said Szmodics.

“We effectively won the game in the first half.

“It was the perfect start for me, and the team, with a goal and then an assist (for Jackson).

“I said to Steve Ball, the assistant manager, that I will get a brace of goals one day – one of those shots is going to go in, some-time – but it was a great game.

“It’s given us a boost for Tuesday night,” added Szmodics, with reference to tomorrow evening’s home match against Chesterfield.

Regarding his goal, Szmodics said: “The ball dropped into the box, and it landed on my weaker foot, so in that situation you just hit it and hope. Luckily, it’s gone in off the post.

“Jacko (Jackson) gets up and down for 90 minutes. He gives you that work defensively, but also going forward he is a threat, and he took his goal really well.

“We gave them a couple of chances, and I’m not sure what the referee saw for their penalty. But Sam Walker saved it (from Mark Randall) and made a couple of other good saves to make sure it didn’t finish 3-3,” added Szmodics.

Meanwhile, debutant Ryan Inniss said: “Crawley went gung-ho in the second half. I know we conceded from a set piece, but we defended well.

“Maybe we defended too deep, but we are a young team and we put on our tin hats. We stuck in there.

“I gave away the penalty. I disagree with the opinion, but I’ll learn from that, whether the referee was right or wrong. I thought I just jumped.

“I had a couple of chances at the other end, the gaffer has homed in on that. I fancy I can score some goals this season.”