A DREAM come true.

That is how local lad Luke Hyam has described his first goal for his boyhood club after the midfielder played a starring role in Ipswich’s 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest last night.

Hyam, and fellow midfield powerhouse Guirane N’Daw, both opened their account for Town who moved out of the bottom three following an excellent performance against the promotion contenders.

N’Daw gave the Blues a deserved first-half lead and though Dexter Blackstock equalised, Hyam’s big moment came just two minutes later when he crashed home a rebound after DJ Campbell’s penalty was saved.

Sub Daryl Murphy sealed the precious three points – and stretched Town’s unbeaten home run to three games – in injury-time to leave the dressing room, and fans alike, buzzing.

None more so than academy graduate Hyam, in for the injured Nigel Reo-Coker, who produced a man-of-the-match performance to pay back the continued support he receives from the terraces.

The 21-year-old former Northgate High School pupil said: “I used to watch Ipswich from the Britannia Stand (now the Co-op Stand) so to score my first goal at Portman Road in front of the Sir Bobby Robson Stand is a dream come true.

“It was an incredible moment – my family and friends were in the stands – and you could tell by my celebrations that I lost my head a little bit.

“I would also like to thank the fans who have given me such great support. It means everything to me and I just want to repay their faith.”

McCarthy has now overseen a decent points tally of 10 points from a possible 18 with hopes high that a corner has been turned.

Hyam, who hobbled off in the second half with a calf injury, added: “It is a vital three points but I thought it was one of our best performances of the season – everyone worked so hard.

“We are all in this together. The lads are buzzing about getting out of the bottom three but we have to push on now.”