GREAT Wakering Rovers striker Billy Johnson says he hopes his seven-minute hat-trick against Thurrock on Tuesday will inspire a turnaround in results.

Johnson scored in the 19th, 21st and 26th minutes against Fleet, with two late Jay Nash strikes completing a 5-1 win in the Ryman League Cup.

Rovers have struggled for form of late, winning just once in eight matches before Tuesday, but Johnson, whose goals were described as “unreal” by manager Dan Trenkel, said the team will turn it around.

“I think the first was my favourite,” said the striker, who had only scored once this term prior to the match. “The ball came to me in our half and I just thought I would run with it. I ended up with a one-on-one and I just scooped it over their keeper.

“It was weird because I was really pleased with that goal and before I knew it I had a hat-trick. It is the quickest one I have scored before but I was just pleased to get on the scoresheet.

“The team has had a bit of a tricky run of late so it is important for confidence to get a win.”

Johnson has started the season slowly by his standards, netting just once before the League Cup triumph.

But he is now targeting a cup run, after drawing Ryman Premier League leaders Leiston in the third round – a match he is looking forward to.

“It is a tough one but you want to play against the best. I have played there before and they get a decent crowd over there as well so it will be a challenge.

“Although it has been a tricky spell the squad has been together for a few years now and we know each other well. All team’s go through little bad spells but it is how you bounce back that counts.

“We have a tough game at Bury Town this weekend but this is the sort of game we want after Tuesday. We had a good record against those at the top last year so hopefully we can have more of the same this time.”

Trenkel has recently added striker Jake Gordon to his squad and, along with Johnson, Nash and Jacob Cleaver, there is a lot of competition in forward positions.

But that doesn’t bother Johnson.

“Competition is always a good thing,” he said. If there is no-one pushing you for your spot then you won’t progress. We are on our toes and we want it that way.”