Oxford United match-winner Phil Trainer was thrilled to open his account for the season with a superb left-footed strike, but he insisted the main reason to be cheerful was a victory for the team.

The former Moor Green midfielder's 55th-minute goal, which put the U's two-up, proved to be decisive as Rushden pulled one back, but seldom looked like snatching a second.

"It's nice to get a goal, my first of the season, but more importantly to get the three points," he said.

"I got through the 90 minutes, which is a bonus, and I'd still got a lot left in the tank, to be honest. I'm finally getting there."

Returning to winning ways was vital after losing the previous week, but the team also put on a very good display.

"We were all disappointed on the way back from Lewes," Trainer said.

"After the good win on the Tuesday against Cambridge, we went there on the Saturday and didn't perform.

"When you go to places like Lewes, it's always going to be tough, and sometimes I think you get dragged to their level.

"We should be better than that, rise to the challenge and play our own game."

Trainer's goal, following a flick-on from Yemi Odubade, came after he raced through on the left and had ages to think about whether to shoot, or try to go around the keeper.

In the end, he rifled an unstoppable low drive into the bottom right corner.

"Obviously I was pleased with the goal," he said.

"I don't like to take too much time, I like to do it early. I think if you take too long, things can go wrong, but I took a touch, got my head down and smacked it, and thankfully it went in.

"Rushden had just changed to 3-5-2 and the wingback had pushed on. It was a great flick by Yemi – it's about time he won a header, to be honest!

"I should have scored from one in the first half, which was a bit easier. It was a bit awkward because the ball bounced before it came to me, but maybe I should still have put it in.

"But I got the goal to make up for it.

"It's an important three points, a big boost for us, and I'm happy for the fans, supporting us week in, week out. Hopefully we've given them something to keep coming for."