"It was a good feeling in the dressing room at the end, especially away from home – we had almost forgotten what it was like!"
Dave Pratt's delight – and relief – was clear to see after Bath City triumphed at Boreham Wood on Saturday to record a first league victory since April 26.
And the striker – who scored City's equaliser before setting up Ross Stearn for the second-half winner – believes the result was just reward for the tireless work of him and his team-mates.
"We knew we had it in us, so we just had to keep believing that it would come good," Pratt said.
"It's a good result, not just for me as a player but for the team and for Bath City."
Having picked up just one point from the first four matches, the visitors' heads could have been expected to drop when Scott Thomas' innocuous shot left keeper Jason Mellor flat-footed as it rolled into the net.
"Of course you think 'not another goal' but we do have good team spirit and good morale, so we knew we could turn it around if we kept plugging away," Pratt added.
Plugging away is the hallmark of Pratt's game, personified by a moment just before the half-hour mark when he pressurised defender Josh Hill into a mistake and sidestepped keeper James Russell, only for the shot stopper to get enough on his attempted lob to push the ball wide for a corner.
However, Russell had no chance when Pratt met Stearn's cross with a cracking header to level the scores just before half-time.
"We keep telling Ross 'just keep putting balls into the box'," said the scorer.
"I knew as long as I could get up and reach it, I wouldn't even have to get much power on it to guide it in.
"The second goal? I went to pass it through to Ross the first time but it took a deflection. Luckily the ball came back to me and I got a second bite of the cherry.
"Eventually, I got it out to Ross on the right and he's slotted it past the goalie. He took it really well.
"Last five minutes they threw everything they had at us, pumping the ball in, but I think as a unit across the back four and in midfield we defended quite well."
Pratt was also pleased with City's attacking shape, which saw him plough a lone furrow up front while Stearn and Andy Watkins provided width.
"For me it works quite well," said Pratt. "Playing down the middle on my own, I know it's going to be hard work but that's my game – I don't mind a bit of hard work. Run them ragged and then get your rewards!"
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