BILLERICAY Town hero Alan Julian admits it was ‘a dream come true’ to bag his first ever goal and force an FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay against Sutton United.

It looked as though Billericay were crashing out of the competition due to Omar Bugiel slotting home early on, but Town goalkeeper Julian headed home an unlikely equaliser in injury time to record a 1-1 draw and ensure the two sides will meet again at the Steel Team Stadium on Tuesday.

And the 36-year-old was overjoyed after playing his part at both ends of the pitch.

Julian said: “It was a big time to get my first ever goal.

“I have gone up for a few corners and free-kicks late in games when we have been losing in the past, but getting my first goal in the FA Cup is a dream come true.

“The FA Cup is a competition I grew up watching and, being a goalkeeper, I never expected to score a goal in it.

“It was a special moment and I won’t forget it.”

Having made his professional debut close to 17 years ago, Julian kept Billericay’s FA Cup dream alive by heading a Jordan Parkes free-kick home.

But Julian concedes he did not initially realise he was the goalscorer.

Julian added: “I jumped up and headed the ball.

“I felt it touch the side of my head and, initially, I didn’t think there was much power on it.

“I wasn’t facing the goal, so I thought someone else had volleyed my flick-on in when I heard the crowd cheering.

“It was only when everyone was shouting ‘Jules’ that I realised what had happened and I can’t put into words what I felt after that.

“In all honesty, I only went up for the free-kick to cause a bit of confusion. Jake Robinson told me to block someone off to give him some more space and that’s what I was intending to do.

“But the ball came my way and it’s great that it ended up in the back of the net.”

And Julian hopes Billericay can capitalise on his goalscoring exploits in the replay.

“I have been in football long enough to know that it’s just a draw and we have another whole game to get through against Sutton,” he admitted.

“The FA Cup is important to non-league clubs because of the income that comes with it, but we are not in the first round yet and we have to do a job in the replay.

“If we get Sunderland or Portsmouth away in the draw, that will be a massive incentive for us.”