Jack Ellis believes Carlisle United's 2-0 victory over AFC Fylde can provide the platform for the Blues to build momentum after securing a much-needed three points on the road.
United responded to Saturday's disappointment with a determined display at Mill Farm, recording their first clean sheet of the season and earning victory through goals from Regan Linney and Ellis.
The defender felt the performance showed the character within the squad and was delighted to see the players rewarded for their efforts.
He said: "We're really happy. I think we needed it.
"It might not have been the prettiest performance, but I think we showed a lot of grit and a lot of togetherness.
"Today was all about getting a result and I'm really happy for all the players, all the staff and the manager because we definitely deserved that."
A first clean sheet of the campaign was another major positive for the Blues, with Ellis highlighting the importance of a strong defensive foundation.
He believes the squad now has something to build on heading into the coming weeks.
"We've been so disappointed with the lack of clean sheets we've kept.
"That's not just the back three and the keeper, it's the whole team, and it's something we've spoken about a lot.
"Hopefully it's the first of many because if we can keep giving ourselves that platform, we're going to win a lot of games."
Ellis capped off an impressive evening by scoring United's second goal after pressing high up the pitch and winning possession deep inside the Fylde half.
The defender was delighted to reward the travelling supporters and hopes the victory can be the start of a positive run for the Blues.
"We spoke about the press before the game and we really wanted to lock on.
"The instruction was to go and follow him, so I've done that, won the ball and luckily rolled it in. It was a nice feeling.
"We don't want this to be a one-off. We want to go on a run and I think we're more than capable of doing that."
