SUPER ROBBO OFF TO A FLYER
ACLASSIC display of finishing by Billericay striker Jake Robinson saw him score all four of his side’s goals as the Essex side showed just why they are the bookies’ favourites to win the league.
The former Brighton striker, who scored 59 goals in all competitions for the visitors last season, was far too hot to handle for a City team playing their first game at their new temporary “home” of Torquay United’s Plainmoor ground.
And if it was not for a superlative display by Truro keeper Jojo Wolla-cott, who is on loan from Bristol City, it could have been much, much worse.
For Billericay manager Harry Wheeler it could hardly have been a better opening to a campaign, in which so much is expected of his newly-promoted side, with the financial backing of millionaire businessman Glenn Tamplin, who has already forecast they will win the league.
He said: “The three points is the most important thing, then it’s the clean sheet and then it’s the performance and I think we had all three.
“Jake (Robinson) has been doing it all his career and seems to get better as he gets older. The team though was superb. I thought all 11 who started and those who came on were fantastic.”
His opposite number Lee Hodges was naturally unhappy with his team’s performance.
He said: “We did not start right and it was a disappointing day. They are a good team and favourites to win the league, but three of the four goals were our own doing. Without Jojo it could have been even more. He was awesome.”
Billericay were in scintillating form from the kick-off as they made it a miserable Devon debut for a City side, who have relocated to their league rivals’ ground while they await the building of a new stadium in Cornwall. Wolla-cott had already produced great saves to deny first Robinson and then Adam Coombes, but had no chance in the fourth minute as Robinson flicked home a leftwing cross from the excellent Callum Kennedy.
It was one-way traffic as Coombes thumped a header against the bar and Wolla-cott did brilliantly to tip over Ricky Modeste’s powerful header.
But a second goal from the Essex side seemed inevitable and it duly came in the 21st minute when Joe Kizzi produced a pinpoint cross from the right for the unmarked Robinson to head past a helpless Wolla-cott.
City started the second period more encouragingly, but Billericay always had the game in hand, with Robinson producing a top class finish to complete his hat-trick and he then pounced on a mistake by Paul Bignot to score his fourth and seal a great win.
STAR MAN: Jake Robinson (Billericay) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★