GOAL-MACHINE Sam Higgins says he is already setting his next East Thurrock United scoring target after netting his 250th goal for the club.

The prolific forward scored a brace in the 3-2 defeat against Concord Rangers on New Year’s Day to surpass the landmark.

It took Higgins’ tally for the season to 21, including 17 in the National League South.

And while he said he was pleased to score he would have forgone the goals, in what was his 317th start for the club, for three points.

“I was aware I was close to it a few weeks ago,” said the 27-year-old Rocks captain. “The fans spoke to me about it and Covo (manager John Coventry) told me I was about 10 goals away.

“I knew in the back of my head that it was near but it wasn’t until last week that I realised I was just one goal away.

“It was nice to get it against Concord and I always set myself a target of getting as many as possible each season.

“The game itself was frustrating. It was great to get the 250 goals but I would rather not have scored and won the game.

“We deserved something out of it but fair play to Concord. They did what they needed to do.

“We want to turn the tables on it when we play them in the Essex Senior Cup next week and in the league at the end of January now.”

The result leaves Rocks in ninth place in the standings, just six points off the play-off places.

Higgins is already targeting the points when Rocks and Concord play again at the end of the month.

And with just five points separating the top seven, the forward is aware there is still plenty to play for in the months ahead.

“I want to help the team move up the league,” he said. “We seem to get a good win and then get a bad result and we are not moving up or down in the league at the moment.

“It is an incredible league this year. Everytime someone hits the top they seem to lose and other teams catch up. We started so well and then dipped and it felt like we didn’t win in forever yet we are still in with a shout of a play-off finish.

“With the play-off places extended to six teams we can definitely achieve it. We can beat teams at the top and going on a run would make a big difference now.

“We have a small squad but we have worked that way for a long time and the players we have mean we can make it work.”

Higgins struggled with hamstring injuries last season and admits he felt like he was playing through pain even when he did start playing games.

But he is now feeling sharp and is determined to end the season on a high with the club he loves.

“It has been really nice to play so much,” he said. “Last season I didn’t play much in the first half of the year and even after that it wasn’t right.

“This year I feel stronger and I would like to get 30 goals. But the main aim to get into the play-offs.”