BRADLEY Ihionvien insists he will be patient in his pursuit of first-team game time with Colchester United.

The 20-year-old striker scored twice for the U’s in their 3-2 win over Hashtag United on Tuesday night, as they booked their place in the BBC Essex Senior Cup Final.

Ihionvien has made 26 first-team appearances for Colchester so far this season but has not featured since coming on as a substitute to score a late equaliser in their 2-2 draw at Swindon Town, on January 6.

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But the U’s academy product was back on the bench for the 1-1 draw with Accrington Stanley last weekend and says he is willing to wait for his opportunities, under Danny and Nicky Cowley.

Ihionvien said: “I’m always trying to score goals, as many as I can and keep winning - that’s the main aim as a striker.

“I hope to be involved and show a bit more of what I am, at that level.

“But it’s down to the gaffers – I trust in them and I’ll be patient and wait for my time to come.”

Ihionvien was in goalscoring form for Colchester against Hashtag, as they claimed victory in their semi-final.

“Two goals and a win – I can’t complain,” said Ihionvien, who has scored four first-team goals so far, this season.

“I was really happy with the goal I scored from the free-kick, I enjoyed that one.

Gazette:

“For the second one, I thought I’d messed it up and taken too long but I was happy to see it roll into the bottom corner.

“I was happy with my personal performance and that of the team.

“Getting into the final was something the club want, so it was really good for the team.

“A winning mentality is something that’s got to come from the players.

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“It’s 100 per cent come from the gaffers; they’ve instilled that in us to drive to the end whether it’s 1-0, 2-0, we keep going for the extra goal and be relentless.

“We’re all on different journeys here but we came together as a team, no matter what journey we’re on and where we are in our career, to make sure we won the game.

“We want to win the competition and I think it showed on the pitch.”