BILLERICAY Town hotshot Jake Robinson was overjoyed after making a vital contribution on the opening day of a second consecutive season.

The striker netted in the third minute of stoppage time to hand Billericay a 1-0 victory over Eastbourne Borough.

And, 12 months after scoring four goals in the curtain-raiser against Truro City, Robinson was thrilled to grab the winner.

“Scoring a last minute winner is one of the best feelings in football,” said Robinson.

“If you can’t get a hat-trick or four goals, like I did on the opening day of last season, then you want to score a last minute goal to win the game.

“When we won the Isthmian Premier League in 2018, we scored a lot of last minute goals but I didn’t get any of them and I always felt like I was missing out.

“But I was able to enjoy that feeling this time and the celebrations at the end were fantastic.”

Following a frustrating first half, Town dominated proceedings after the break at the Steel Team Stadium.

A drilled cross from Tambeson Eyong cannoned off an Eastbourne defender and onto the underside of the crossbar, while Matt Rhead saw a header ruled out for offside.

Robinson was also thwarted by a superb Tom Hadler save but Billericay were not to be denied all three points as the frontman slid Moses Emmanuel’s centre home late on.

And Robinson was pleased to claim bragging rights over some close friends.

“We stopped at Starbucks on the way to the game and there were some Eastbourne players in there,” added Robinson.

“I knew all of them and I’m good friends with some of them.

“They asked me not to score but I couldn’t promise that!

“I felt bad for some of the lads because they were better for some parts of the game, but I was pleased to get the season off to a winning and goalscoring start.”

Robinson returned to Billericay in March following a brief spell with Maidstone United and, having won the treble with Town last year, he is targeting more silverware.

“Promotion is the aim and you can’t play for Billericay unless you are ambitious,” admitted Robinson.

“Getting into the play-offs is the minimum target but we know that if we get on a good run then claiming top spot could be in the offing.

“I want to score close to a goal a game and if I achieve that we will have a good season.”