Chris Porter admitted that his first goal for Colchester United, a sweet long-range strike after just five minutes of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Bradford, was one of the best goals of his career.

It was all the more remarkable, when considered that the 31-year-old ex-Sheffield United target man slated the Valley Parade pitch as one of the worst surfaces he had ever played on.

“Honestly, that’s the worst pitch I have played on, in my career,” insisted Porter, who has rattled up 397 senior appearances over the last 12 years, including 338 league outings.

“It was just all boggy, and all the lads’ legs are in turmoil now. The pitch was just so heavy, that you couldn’t get the ball down and play.

“Instead, it was just a matter of doing what Bradford were doing, pumping it up rather than getting the ball down and passing it about.

“I think the pitch certainly suited Bradford more than us.”

With regards his cracking goal, Porter joked: “It’s not a bad way to score my first goal for Colchester – I think it must have taken a bobble!

He continued: “I’ve not scored many long-range goals like that, in my career.

“Most of my goals have been tap-ins or headers, or from inside the six-yard box, so that goal has to be up there as one of my best.”