Colchester United’s hat-trick hero, Kurtis Guthrie, is certainly relishing his first full season in the Football League, after two years in the National League with Forest Green Rovers.

Guthrie plundered a hat-trick in the U’s superb 4-1 home win over Carlisle on Saturday.

“That’s my first Football League hat-trick, so I’m very happy with it. It’s a special moment, and I will savour the day,” enthused Jersey-born Guthrie.

“I thought it might not be my day, because I could have got my hat-trick earlier, but I kept going. And I managed to get it in the end.

“I imagine for the neutral it was a good game, with a lot of good football played.

“Now I’m going to take home the match-ball, and sleep with it tonight. But I will be back focusing on the job in hand from Monday.

“We certainly can’t rest on our laurels. We’ve had our blip, and we must make sure we don’t have another blip. We must keep pushing for the top places. Long may this run continue,” added Guthrie, who has now scored seven goals in his last nine games.

See today’s ‘East Anglian Daily Times’ newspaper for more reaction from Kurtis Guthrie, plus a full match report and pictures