Birthday boy Craig Lindfield is hoping his first goal in more than a year will spur him onto more.

The striker, 23 on Wednesday, fired home the first in the Reds’ dramatic 3-2 win over Carlisle in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy the previous evening.

And he admitted: “It was a great feeling when it hit the back of the net. I have waited a long time for that feeling but it was worth it.

“My mum and dad weren’t going to come but decided they would and I am so glad they did.

“It’s a weight lifted off my shoulders and it has made me a lot happier as a person and given me a huge confidence boost.

“Every game I would go home thinking of chances I had missed and you take it out on your family so I think they were happier than me that I had scored.

“The longer it goes without a goal, the smaller the nets seem to get and things just don’t go in for you.

“But now I can’t wait for the next game. It was good timing for my birthday and let’s hope it’s not my next birthday before I get another one!”

Lindfield, who last scored a Reds goal in August last year in the Carling Cup, admitted he was gutted to be sat in the stands in the goalless draw at Barnet on Saturday.

“That hurt, to travel all that way and not be in the squad,” he said.

“But perhaps it was the wake-up call I needed as I was determined on Tuesday. They say a week is a long time in football and it certainly feels that way.

“There are no reserve games now and so you have to do your best in training but there is nothing like games.

“I didn’t play as much as I would have liked last season so now, when I get my chance be it in the league or cup, I have got to take it and I don’t think I could have done anymore.

“Now I have got to hope I am in the squad or even starting against Gillingham.My season starts here and I want to make the most of it. I want my first league goal of the season now.”

Former Liverpool trainee Lindfield admitted he has been working in training on his finishing.

“Me and Proc (Andy¿Procter) have a competition sometimes after training  and the worst finisher has to serve the other his food for lunch.

“That’s motivation enough to improve my finishing!

“But it has done me the world of good. I feel everything I hit will go in and that’s a great feeling for a striker.

“I have always believed in my own ability and now hopefully I will get a run in the team and show what I can do.”

The Reds face two tough games at Gillingham and then Rotherham on Tuesday, who have lost top striker Adam Le Fondre – a regular scorer against the Reds – to Reading

“Gillingham is never an easy place to go to,” said midfielder Luke Joyce. “But we go into it on the back of three home wins and a good result on Tuesday.

“We have also now got real competition for places as Craig Lindfield, Louis Moult, Tom Bender and Peter Murphy all did well on Tuesday and the gaffer has a headache for the next games.

“Gillingham will be smarting after losing to a late penalty at home last week and they will be keen to put it right but we will also be up for it.

“And I think we owe Rotherham one as we had Kevin Long sent off early on when they beat us at home and we should have done better at their place. But we want to make the Crown Ground a little fortress so hopefully we can continue that on Tuesday.”

Boss John Coleman has Charlie Barnett and Nat Taylor both suspended. Taylor was sent off playing for Accrington and Rossendale College last season and has a 35-day ban which will last until early October. Barnett misses two more games after being sent off at Barnet.

Defender Kevin Long returns after being suspended for the Carlisle game for his dismissal at the Bees while Danny Coid is battling an injury which kept him out on Tuesday.