FLYING Whites' winger Claudio Herbert has often been on the outside looking in this season but he showed his quality against Portchester on Tuesday night with a pivotal part in both goals.

In big games this season the former Salisbury City youth player has found himself behind Dan Young, Dan Demkiv and Taurean Roberts in the pecking order for a starting place out wide. He had to be consoled by team-mates after missing out on the matchday 16 in the FA Vase first leg against Hereford.

But the squad player said he has continued to train hard to try and catch the eye of boss Steve Claridge. In the game last night he won a penalty for the first goal then smashed a bullet into the top corner to secure the win.

“We have loads of games coming up and the boss has rotated the squad so it was nice to get a start and to be involved in the goals,” he said.

“The gaffer told me to hang around at the edge of the area for any knockdowns and it has just come out to me and I’ve got a strike on goal.

“I have been working hard at training to try and get my place and the gaffer gave me my chance tonight. It is frustrating [not playing every game] but it is obviously a team game, he has rotated the squad and I’ve taken my chance.

“It was gutting to miss out on the Vase but I just have to wait for my chance to come in the future.”

His manager also reserved special praise for his performance on Tuesday hailing his first half strike which effectively ended Portchester’s resistance.

“It was a wonderful strike, it didn’t deserve to be in that game,” Claridge said.