LEE Charles went from zero to hero after netting Weymouth's winner at home to Redbridge last night.

The midfielder has struggled to make an impact at the Wessex Stadium following his summer move from Aldershot Town.

But the former Queens Park Rangers man impressed again after being handed another start by boss Steve Claridge and fired his first goal in a Terras shirt to clinch the hosts a 1-0 Nationwide South win.

And Charles admitted he hoped his slow start to his Weymouth career is now firmly behind him.

He told Echosport: "It is great to have finally found the net for Weymouth even though it has been a long time coming.

"I've had quite a frustrating time since making the move over the summer but hopefully tonight is the start of things to come.

"I want to play every game, all footballers do, and I'd be lying if I said I was happy over the first couple of months of the season.

"You never like being left on the bench at any time, and I'm sure the lads who have been left out at the moment would say the same now.

"As a team we haven't had the best of starts to the season but to the manager's credit he has recognised the fact and taken action.

"He changed things around before the Dorchester FA Cup game last weekend, both in personnel and formation-wise and on the basis of the last couple of games it certainly seems to have worked.

"I'm lucky in that I've benefited from those changes and I've certainly been determined to show that I should stay in the team.

"The manager has said to everyone that if we play well then we keep the shirt and that is how it should be.

"You have to have competition for places so nobody gets complacent.

"Hopefully this goal will start a run for me and I'll get a few more in no time at all."

Charles said he thought his 54th minute strike came at the ideal time in a contest of few clear-cut chances.

"In many ways this one was very similar to the Dorchester game," he said.

"We did not really get going in the first half and were glad for half-time to come around.

"We started passing the ball a bit better after the break and my goal came at a great time.

"The problem we're going to have this season, particularly at home, is that we're playing 42 cup finals in the league.

"When teams play us they are going to raise their game because of who we are and our excellent

stadium, support and pitch.

"But that is something we have to learn to cope and deal with accordingly.

"Tonight was an example of that - Redbridge made life tough and we had to be patient before getting the breakthrough.

"But it is a win on the board, which is all that matters, and the fact we have got another clean-sheet is good news."