Alex Osborn wasted no time answering his manager's call to increase his strike rate by firing Margate to a dramatic late win on the opening day of the Vanarama National League South season.

Matchwinner Osborn revealed boss Nikki Bull had challenged him to add more goals to his game and he responded in spectacular fashion with a brilliant 90th minute winner in the 1-0 victory over Bath City at Hartsdown Park.

The 23-year-old failed to score from open play during Gate's seven-match pre-season campaign and had told his manager that he was saving them for the league campaign.

Osborn, who signed for the Blues during the summer, explained: "I was speaking to the gaffer the other day and without putting any pressure on me he said 'I feel like you've got everything, maybe just (improve) your end product, add some goals to your game'.

"I don't think I scored in pre-season. My only goal was a penalty in the Ramsgate game (in the shootout which earned Margate the WW Martin Cup) so I was saying to the gaffer 'I'm saving them for the season, I'm saving them for the season' and luckily I've got off to a flying start. As a striker that's always what you want, just to get a goal."

Osborn said he felt that the longer the game stayed goalless the more it was going to to take something special to break the deadlock, and he was delighted that it was him who came up with the game's defining moment - a flashing angled drive from 20 yards which flew into the far corner.

The former Ebbsfleet United man had twice earlier gone close, seeing one goalbound effort hit Bath defender Dan Ball in the first half, before being denied by keeper Steve Phillips' fine save 13 minutes from time.

Osborn explained: "When I was on the pitch I was thinking this game is either going to take a good goal (to win it) or it's going to be nil-nil and luckily it was our way that it went.

"As I 've spun off the player the defender hasn't gone with me so I thought if Mooro (Gate skipper Luke Moore) gives me this, I'm thinking one thing - shoot, and as I took a touch it sat up nicely for me.

"As I hit it, I thought I've caught that nice, if it's on target it's going to cause a problem and luckily it's gone right in the corner. I don't think the goalkeeper got near it to be fair."

Osborn said the Gate squad were delighted to make a winning start but they all know they can play better.

He explained: "We were saying in the dressing room that as we go on we'll get better and better. We like to come out flying but as it was the first game of the season we were a bit nervous.

"People weren't really getting on it but as the season progresses we'll all click and I think we'll absolutely roll teams over.

"What's so good is that we've got such good competition, you know you can't have a bad game or take your foot off the gas because the boys on the bench can all come in and do a great job so it's up to the boys who are starting to keep their shirt."