MATT Paine says he is enjoying proving his worth to Billericay Town after becoming a lynchpin in the team’s success.

The 29-year-old joined from Boreham Wood in the summer and was one of the club’s most high profile acquisitions.

However, Paine started just three of Town’s first 18 fixtures and was sent on loan to Concord Rangers to get some minutes.

Having started all five matches in the National League South, Paine has now become one of the first names on the Billericay team sheet and has started seven of the last nine games.

And he said he is enjoying his football.

“It was frustrating at the start as I dropped two divisions and couldn’t get into the team,” said Paine, who has made 180 appearances in non-league’s top flight.

“But I got some minutes at Concord and that was good. Since I have come back I have been able to prove to (manager) Glenn (Tamplin) and (assistant manager) Harry (Wheeler) how good I am and that I deserve a place.

“I am playing 90 minutes and I hope to continue doing that. When I spoke to the club I knew their intentions and that it wasn’t going to be a walk in the park.

“There is so much competition and it will only get harder as the team continues to grow.”

Paine will be hoping to start Saturday’s crunch FA Trophy tie against Havant & Waterlooville.

But the tie holds no fear for the versatile defender, with Town already seeing off the challenges of higher league opposition in cup competitions this term.

“It is winnable and it is another chance to show how good we are,” he said.

“We respect Brackley Town (who Billericay beat in the FA Cup) are possibly a better team and we have beaten them, as well as Hungerford.

“We have the capability to beat teams well, especially at home. We want to win games and make this place a fortress and aside from the two defeats it has been just that.

“And I feel like we owe the fans after our last home performance so it would be nice to repay them with a good show on the pitch and give them some more Christmas cheer.”