JEVANI Brown played a key role in helping Colchester United claim an impressive victory over Bolton Wanderers – but still felt he should have scored a hat-trick.

The 25-year-old scored one of the U’s goals and made another in their 2-0 victory, after once again leading the line superbly for Steve Ball’s team.

But while he was pleased to help Colchester to their first league win of the season, Brown still felt he could have scored more than once against the Trotters.

Ball said: “I’m pleased with my goal but I’m disappointed in myself, as I feel I should have scored a hat-trick.

“I’m still dwelling a little bit on the two other chances I had.

"But if I keep getting myself into those kind of positions, I should score more often than not.

“I’m not negative towards the team or anything else but from a personal standards point of view, I feel I should have scored at least two but I’m just happy to get the three points.

“It was a great all-round performance by the boys.

“Clean sheets win games as well as goals and we’re happy to get the three points.

“Bolton have got a lot of very good players, so it was always going to be a big challenge.

“But Gerks (Dean Gerken) and the back four kept speaking to us and kept us in shape and it really worked and we hit them on the counter a few times.”

Brown scored his first league goal for Colchester when he calmly lifted the ball past Bolton keeper Billy Crellin, to wrap up his side’s win.

The former Cambridge United attacker had earlier provided the headed assist for Tom Eastman to nod home the U’s opener, in the first half.

“I kept saying to the boys put it in behind; the keeper came out and I put it in the back of the net,” said Brown.

“I’m happy with the finish – the keeper came out at a weird angle which obviously helped me a little bit and I just thought if I get it towards the goal, it’s an open goal.

“When it went in I was happy.

“For our first goal, I just tried to get something on it – I was actually trying to score!

“But Easty was coming in at the back stick to head it in which he’s very good at.

“I’ll take it as an assist, even though I didn’t mean it!

“We’d been working on set pieces a lot in training and it’s good that it came off.”

Colchester have taken four points out of a possible six from their tough opening two games against Bolton and Bradford City, keeping back-to-back clean sheets in that time.

Brown has led the line superbly so far this season and he says he is enjoying his football.

Brown added: “Hopefully we can keep this going.

“We’re playing some very good football which obviously suits me more.

“I’m not the biggest but the way that the boys are playing helps me out a lot.

“The gaffer’s been amazing since he came in and from the start of pre-season, we’ve been working on playing out and it’s working, so we just have to continue that.

“It starts from the staff every day in training and even the young lads this year have stepped up and all done very well but now we need to keep it going.

“I’m enjoying my football – that’s all I ever wanted to do, is just play football.

“I’m glad that I’m getting the minutes now and working hard for the team, so hopefully we can just keep this run going.”