Michael Raynes says his first goal for nearly three years meant it was quids in for his loyal family.

The Carlisle United defender’s nan puts a £2 bet on her grandson scoring every week.

But she had to wait two years, seven months and 71 games before Raynes ended his drought with a match-winning brace against Yeovil.

His crucial double in Saturday’s 3-2 win were his first strikes since scoring for Oxford against Barnet in March 2013.

Raynes said: “It’s been too long and I’ve been getting loads of stick for it.

“My nana puts a bet on every week and, even though it’s only a couple of quid, she must have spent a fortune.

“I hope she didn’t forget this time!”

Raynes said he was delighted to get the goalscoring monkey off his back and help United back to the fringes of the play-off places. He broke his Blues duck with a close-range header before doubling his tally with a 75th-minute winner.

“It’s been a long two years,” he added. “It was nice to get one off the nose and go in.

“It was a good feeling. I ran to Danny [Grainger] because he’s been giving me some stick as well.

“I know it’s an area I need to improve – score a few more goals for a 6ft 4in giant. It’s like buses isn’t it, waiting ages for one and then scoring two. I should have had a hat-trick.”

Raynes says United are looking up again as they eye this weekend’s long FA Cup trip to face League Two leaders Plymouth.

And the ex-Mansfield and Stockport man admits his exploits against Yeovil were a relief after an error-strewn personal display at the back.

Raynes said: “I didn’t have my best game at all, but the goals have got me out of the doghouse.

“I’m big enough to take blame on my shoulders. I’d rather it come my way than it go to anyone else. I’ve had it all my career so I’m used to it now.

“I know I’m not the silkiest of centre-halves. I’m not Rio Ferdinand, I know what I’m about and what I do. Mistakes happen, I’m big enough to take it. I get worse off my missus!”

On debutant defender Mark Ellis, Raynes added: “We didn’t start the best, but I’ve played against Mark a million times and he’s a good centre-half for this level.

“I’m surprised he’s not playing at Shrewsbury – he was different level for them last year. I spoke to him a bit and it seems he’s been picked out [there], which is our gain to get somebody like that. It’s priceless.”

Raynes returned on Saturday from a hip injury and admits he is delighted to be back in the fray for United ahead of their cup trip to Devon.

He said: “I damaged my oblique at Orient when I got smashed in the first half. Then I got two more at Stevenage in the same spot, and then against Exeter I landed straight on it.

“I was like Zoolander, I couldn’t turn left. Absolute nightmare.

“But it’s good to be back and we’ve got a nice trip to Plymouth to look forward to. I like playing at Plymouth – it’s an old-school ground, a proper old-school club, good pitch, and last time there the 4-1 [defeat] showed no reflection on how we played.

“We’ll be looking to put that right. I watched Plymouth on telly versus Notts County the other week and they’ve done really well. Reuben Reid’s been on fire.

“It’s going to be a good test but you’ve got to do that in the FA Cup if you want to get to those next rounds and get the big dogs like Man United away.”