Colchester United goalkeeper Sam Walker has hailed the U’s recent nine-game unbeaten run as the best spell of his career.

The U’s impressive run came to an end in abrupt fashion on Saturday, as Exeter City – in equally good form – ran out 3-0 winners at St James Park.

While that was a disappointment, the U’s remained in the play-off places and the 25-year-old was happy to reflect on a positive couple of months for the U’s.

“The feeling I am experiencing now (after Saturday’s 3-0 defeat) is one that I have not felt for a long time, we have been coming away from games having put in good performances, and the results have matched that,” said the 6ft 6ins stopper.

“It’s been a great time to be around and it’s certainly been the most enjoyable period of my time as a player, in terms of the games unbeaten and the games we have won.

“Today (Exeter) is a tough one but we have got to take stock, see where we have gone wrong, but remember we have come a long way in a short space of time.”

Walker suffered relegation with the U’s last season, after several narrow escapes, and recalled the time when things started to change for the better this season.

“I actually felt we played quite well in the Yeovil game (2-1 defeat), said Walker, whose side, ironically, were only being propped up from the bottom spot by Exeter, after that game on November 19.

“We were probably unlucky not to come away with something that day and even during that 10 or 11-game spell where we didn’t win, there were games where we deserved to get more than we did.

“I always knew that this team, and this squad, was capable of going on the kind of run we have been on, it was just a matter of when really.

“We had a great win on that Tuesday night at Cheltenham and we have not looked back.

“We have picked up some fantastic results and the game at Luton (1-0 victory) springs to mind, as does the home game against Carlisle (4-1 win).

“Unfortunately it has come to an end today, but we have got to make sure it is just a blip in our quest for success at the end of the season.”

Meanwhile, Walker has tipped Exeter to be up there at the top of the table with the U’s at the end of the season.

The Grecians cut the gap to the seventh-placed U’s to one point with their victory at the weekend and are now nine games unbeaten, having scored 14 goals in their last four matches.

“I expect to be challenging and fighting with us for those automatic and play-off places,” added the stopper.

“We have played them twice now and we have a lot of the teams around us to play at home which is exciting for us, because it’s an opportunity for us to stamp our authority on our home patch.”