Sam Walker says his experience as a goalkeeper has helped him move on from his costly error against Morecambe.

The Colchester United shot-stopper was left distraught after his rare blunder gifted the Shrimps a second equaliser, in the 2-2 draw at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Walker, who also saved a penalty in the match, admits it was a “horrific” mistake but insists he has not been dwelling on what happened.

The 25-year-old is in line to make his 200th career appearance when Colchester travel to play Plymouth Argyle, this weekend.

And after the disappointment of last weekend, the popular keeper says he cannot wait to get back out on the pitch and help the U’s topple the League Two leaders.

Walker told the Daily Gazette: “There’s nowhere to hide and last Saturday against Morecambe was the harsh reality of being a goalkeeper.

“It’s a fine line between being the hero and the villain.

“Unfortunately, people remember the mistakes sometimes more than the saves but that’s the way it is.

“People come up to me and say I must be crazy to be a goalkeeper but the high points far outweigh any lows.

“I had the high of the penalty save when you think it’s going to be your day but it didn’t work out that way.

“When I was younger and in the early stages of my career as a goalkeeper in the Football League, I think something like that would have affected me much more.

“But I’m more experienced now and I can’t wait for Plymouth away on Saturday.”

Walker was left distraught after he allowed substitute Lee Molyneux’s second-half free-kick to fly into the net against Morecambe.

“I held my hands up afterwards – it was a horrific mistake and a freak mistake but it’s part and parcel of being a goalkeeper,” said the former Chelsea goalkeeper, who missed almost the whole of the season due to a serious knee injury.

“Mistakes happen in sport as they do in life.

“But it’s wasn’t as if it was a technical error and I don’t remember making a handling error like that before.

“After the game, I was disappointed and upset and I didn’t say too much to anyone when I left the stadium – I just wanted to go away and deal with it.

“I would have done anything to have played again two hours later, just to get it out of my system but it’s not something you can dwell on or take back.

“It still hurts but I came in on Monday morning ready to go again and I’ve had a really good week of training so far.”