Long wait ends for goal-hungry Payne

The midfielder scored Pool’s second goal in Saturday’s 4-1 home win over Newport County, his 15th game for the club.

Payne, who turns 25 next Monday, showed real determination to reach Jamille Matt’s lay-off before volleying into the bottom corner after his initial shot had been blocked.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Payne, whose previous goal was for Leyton Orient at Morecambe in October last year.

“Obviously I don’t get many but it’s nice to get it here in front of the home fans. Hopefully there are a few more to come.

“I just needed to get my finish into the corner as the keeper was struggling to get back up, so I just needed to get the contact right to get it into the net.”

Rock-bottom Newport more than matched the Seasiders for long spells and were level at half-time.

But Pool produced a stunning performance in the second period to extend their unbeaten run at Bloomfield Road to six matches.

Payne added: “No-one is going to deny they battered us in the first half. They absolutely popped it around us, and we need to go back and see why that was.

“I think in the last 10 minutes of the first half we got right into the game.

“We are strong here, and we’ve done it again in the second half and scored another three. Our home form is going to be crucial this year.

“We are a strong and powerful team. We can steamroll teams in 45 minutes and we’ve showed it again.”

Payne also paid tribute to goalkeeper Sam Slocombe, who produced a vital penalty save with the score at 1-1.

“I think Sam’s save gave us a lift and then we scored soon after on the counter,” said the former Gillingham and Peterborough player.

“Sam started it for us, and we’ve taken it from there and put the ball in the net.”

That win was the perfect response by Gary Bowyer’s men to last Tuesday’s agonising defeat at Mansfield Town.

“This just shows the character we have got,” Payne said. “We didn’t deserve to lose at Mansfield (who scored in stoppage-time) – we deserved a point. To bounce back like we have just shows what we are like as a group.”