TOWN'S defenders will be sick of the sound of Paul Rachubka by the end of the season - and that's a promise from the man himself.

The goalkeeper from Charlton Athletic marked his third game on loan with a much-needed clean sheet against Colchester United at Layer Road.

Rachubka added it to the seven he kept in 16 appearances last season and immediately set his sights on keeping more.

While the 23-year-old was delighted not to concede in Essex after letting in one against Brentford and three in the FA Cup at Stockport, he was quick to pay tribute to the hard work of his colleagues.

"The lads all concentrated very well and if they play tight, it obviously makes my job a lot easier," said Rachubka.

"Making saves is obviously what I get paid for, but my other job is making sure the lads maintain their levels of concentration.

"Shouting to make sure concentration doesn't lapse is a big part of my game.

"I don't know whether people realise it is going on or if it happens when I'm not playing, but it always will when I'm in the goal.

"People talked about the fact I made a good save from a free kick down at Colchester, but just as important to me was making sure the three centre-backs, the two wing-backs and the centre midfield were protecting the goal.

"Everyone worked hard on Saturday, we got some great blocks in and, as a keeper, you can't really ask much more of the players in front of you.

"It's a matter of all working together. When Clarkey brought their lad down for the free-kick, I got him out of jail with a save. Later in the game, when the ball came off me from Fagan, Rob Edwards got me out of jail by making a good block on the line.

"That is what teamwork is all about - everyone helping each other - and I thought we did it well last Saturday down at Colchester."

Now fully settled back in at the Galpharm following his loan spells this season at MK Dons and Northampton, Rachubka is looking forward to doing well for the club he helped win the Third Division play-offs last season and, hopefully, making the move permanent.

"We believe we are capable of doing well and being successful," said Rachubka.

"The great thing for me is playing first-team matches, because there is no substitute for that.

"Every match is extremely important, which is why I was so disappointed to lose like we did in the FA Cup.

"It was my first tie and I desperately wanted to do well and to win.

"Going through to the third round is obviously the first objective because you can draw a big club and really test yourself in the heat of a strong competition.

"We think we are a good side and one of the ways to test yourself is to play teams from a higher level.

"The FA Cup would have been a great opportunity to do that and, while some people think it's a distraction to doing well in the League, it's a distraction we would happily have welcomed.

"Some people think that losing early in the cups last season probably helped us sustain a challenge in the League later on in the campaign, but I don't think you can look at it like that.

"We don't like losing any game and we are all keen to prove how good we are.

"Sometimes you come up against tough opposition, like Colchester, and you have to dig in to get your rewards. We've shown we can do that as well as play some good football.

"I'm really enjoying myself again and it's just as good this season as it was last.

"First team football is what it's all about and I just love being involved every Saturday, looking at the table, working out exactly what's at stake and then going out to work hard from week to week."