HARRY Pell says scoring a last-gasp winner for Colchester United against Salford City was a ‘very special moment’.

Pell nodded for the U’s in the 93rd minute to help them claim a 1-0 victory over the Ammies, sparking wild celebrations among players and fans alike at the JobServe Community Stadium.

It was a poignant moment for Pell, who was sidelined for nearly three months earlier in the season with a troublesome Achilles injury having also missed the final weeks of the previous campaign with a hamstring problem.

Pell said: “It was a very special moment for me, I’m not going to lie.

“It got a bit emotional towards the end because not many people know what I’ve been through with my injuries with a few setbacks and (being) misdiagnosed and that.

“If I’m being honest, I think I thoroughly deserved that.

“I put a lot of work in on the training pitch and in the gym – it’s been a lonely place at times.

“The people that know that the most are my peers, the management and the people around the club.

“There were some dark days in there, if I’m being totally honest.

“It’s probably affected my family and everyone around me and myself as a person as well.

“I’ve never had it before and that’s the first full 90 minutes I’ve had this season.

“I have to thank the staff, because I think I had a really good season, last season.

“The boys have done really, really well and I’d like to thank the gaffer and Bally (Steve Ball) because obviously they’ve stuck by me and played me in games when the team are doing well and it’s not always easy to do that.

“It was a really special moment and I’m going to enjoy it.”

Pell revealed that a pre-match conversation he had with Colchester assistant manager Steve Ball played its part in his performance against Salford.

The 28-year-old made only his second league start of the season against the Ammies, following a long and frustrating injury lay-off.

“I’ll be honest, Bally pulled me before the game and said ‘what you’ve been through and the injuries are done – there are no excuses now’.

“To be fair, I think he knows how to rile me in the right way and he has quite a few of the same characteristics as I have.

“It was a special moment and that’s why I ran over to them, because everyone has seen me at my lowest.

“I think a lot of the fans will relate to what I’ve been through.

“I’ve put a lot on social media, just to keep me going.

“It’ll take me a couple of games, as it has done, just to get back in the swing of things but I want to stick it in fifth gear and move on with my season now."