IT was important for us to bounce back from our FA Cup exit as soon as possible when we travelled to Hampton & Richmond Borough.

The FA Trophy is a competition we have ambitions to do well in and we did well in it last year.

The FA Cup first round replay defeat to Chesterfield was disappointing and following that and the draw with Hungerford Town, we wanted to get back to winning ways at Hampton.

So it was great to pick up a 1-0 win, keep a clean sheet and get on the scoresheet.

The injury situation was a bit of a nightmare for me and I had only scored once - in the Essex Senior Cup win over Concord Rangers - since breaking my toe.

So I was really pleased to score the winner because the only thing better than that, for a striker, is scoring a hat-trick.

Hopefully the goal will start off a good run for me in front of goal and we can also go on a winning run.

But I could have scored a hat-trick on Saturday, were it not for the referee, so it was frustrating for me to miss out on taking home the matchball.

I had one goal ruled out and I still do not know what for, while I was also ruled offside when I was clean through on goal and it has since been confirmed that I was onside.

I don’t like to criticise referees but I don’t know if he was overawed by the occasion. It would have been great to have scored a hat-trick.

We’ve now been drawn away to Hereford in the first round and it’s going to be a very tough game.

They are a big club, with a lot of history and it’s a good draw in the sense that I’m sure there will be a big crowd.

But I don’t think we could have asked for a tie much further away, considering the draw was regionalised!

We’re away to Saffron Walden Town, Eastbourne Borough, Bath City and Hereford in the space of 11 days, so someone better get the team coach filled with petrol!