Before this match Downey hadn't played since the away game at Rotherham on October 27th thanks to a hernia. But after playing the full 80 minutes against the Blues he says that he's raring to go as the National League One season approaches its final third.

"The physio department did a great job getting me out there," said Downey. "I hadn't played in seven or eight weeks so I was hungry again and looking forward to playing again. I had no problems with the injury so I'm happy enough and we'll see where we go from here.

"It being my first game back I was a little off the pace. It was good to get through the game and playing 80 minutes was a bonus as well. I needed to get it under my belt."

It was the first time that Downey had played in front of a capacity crowd at Franklin's Gardens, which was also the highest crowd in English club rugby over the weekend, and he paid tribute to the supporters.

"The atmosphere was awesome," he said. "To play in front of a full crowd like that was brilliant. When we played Bedford down there was the same. It was really good to play in front of that in a derby game and we were lucky enough to come out with a bonus point."