DANIEL Chillingworth hopes his goal against Havant & Waterlooville last weekend is the first of many this season. The striker has battled back from a number of serious injuries, and following a year away from the game last season, is back and ready to hel

DANIEL Chillingworth hopes his goal against Havant & Waterlooville last weekend is the first of many this season.

The striker has battled back from a number of serious injuries, and following a year away from the game last season, is back and ready to help fire City up the Blue Square South table.

Chillingworth first joined the club in 2007 and made a couple of appearances during pre-season last year but his goal on Saturday coincided with his first start for the club and the striker is delighted to have opened his account.

"It's been a long time coming," Chillingworth told the Herts Advertiser. "It feels like I've been here for the best part of two or three years but obviously I haven't and I've only played a handful of games but it's nice to get on the scoresheet.

"It was a great delivery and to be honest I don't think I could have missed. It was just a case of timing the run and getting my head on it and thankfully I saw the net bulging."

Steve Castle described the former Cambridge striker as a 'natural goalscorer' and Chillingworth says if he's fit then he's confident he'll get goals.

"The thing with me is getting my fitness and staying fit," explained the 28-year-old. "Over the last five or six years I've always scored goals when I've played so hopefully it'll be no different. I need to get my fitness and get sharper and hopefully the goals will come."

Chillingworth got 90 minutes under his belt last weekend and the striker is hoping to make that a regular occurrence.

"The last 15-20 minutes I was treading water a bit but it was important I got through the 90 (minutes) and hopefully I can kick on and get a few more.

"It's always nice to play 90 minutes, I haven't done that much over the last couple of years and last year I had a total year out from football. This year I've come back and I'm hungry to play again and I'd just like to thank Steve (Castle) for the faith he's shown in me and hopefully today the goal's helped to start paying him back.

"It would have been nice to get the three points but in fairness to them (Havant) they probably deserved a point."

City travel to the Wessex Stadium on Saturday to take on fellow Blue Square South strugglers Weymouth and Chillingworth is hoping for a repeat of his last game against the Terras.

"The last time I played Weymouth I scored a hat-trick and we won 7-0 so hopefully it'll be a repeat performance!