Twenty-five goal striker Alfie May signs for Conference South Farnborough

The former Corinthian, Chatham Town, Bromley and VCD Athletic prolific striker has banged in 25-goals for the Southern Counties East Football League leaders already this season and has secured a second move into Conference South football.

May has been on trial at League One strugglers Crewe Alexandra recently but Farnborough manager Spencer Day has snapped up Kent’s leading goalscorer.

Farnborough have also unveiled today that they have taken striker Jamie Slabber on loan from their Vanarama Conference South rivals Bromley.

Day told www.farnboroughtownfc.co.uk:  Jamie needs no introduction as one of the League’s regular top scorers and a player we could only dream about signing these last couple of years.

“He arrives on an initial one month loan as part of the Paul Rodgers deal (to Bromley) and we are grateful to Mark (Goldberg) and Bromley.

“It’s a great opportunity for Jamie to get some games and goals and enjoy himself again after a difficult start to the season.”

Speaking about bringing May to Hampshire, Day added: “Alfie May comes from Erith & Belvedere where he has already scored 25 goals this season and trialled with Crewe Alexandra a couple of weeks ago.

“It’s a great opportunity for him to try at a higher level and we are excited to again give lower pyramid players their chance. 

“We also thank Erith & Belvedere for supporting Alfie in getting his chance.”

Erith & Belvedere boss Longhurst said: “We’ve had lots of interest in Alfie May this year and last week he received an excellent offer from Farnborough and after much deliberation and talks he has decided to move on.

“Our first thoughts are of delight for a lad that I’ve had with me since he was eighteen in the reserves at Corinthian and grabbed hold of him this year to help him progress and that’s what we have helped him do, along with his undoubted talent.

“As a club we wish him all the best. I’m sure the rest of the Southern Counties East Football League will be pleased he’s moved on too!

“I am a little disappointed that he’s gone to that level as I feel that if he’d waited a little bit longer, full-time football, where he can be coached every day and go in the gym to physically improve, would have been better for him personally.

“But I don’t blame him one bit for taking their offer and when they play midweek and we don’t then I’ll be along to watch him.”

The Deres moved five points clear at the top of the Southern Counties East Football League following their 4-0 home win over second-placed Ashford United last Saturday.

“After the game against Ashford it was time to reflect on how the season has gone so far and where we felt we were at,” said Longhurst.

“A comfortable home win against the team second from top and leading the league table was a great start to life rebuilding the club.

“Myself, Sam Groombridge and Darren Mace have worked hard over the initial first few months on the training ground and behind the scenes and the players’ have been fantastic in responding to everything we have asked of them.

“We regularly ask for the players’ input on how we play offensively and defensively as at the end of the day they have to be comfortable with what they are ultimately doing on the pitch.

“Saturday was a good performance with our keeper only really making one notable save although Ashford are a difficult team to play against.

“Jake Britnell was a constant thorn in their full-backs side and was our main threat in the first half.

“Second half we made sure of the result and could have won possibly more convincingly.”

Longhurst takes his side to Beckenham Town tomorrow.

Jason Huntley’s side were knocked out of The FA Vase last weekend by Corinthian, who came away from Eden Park Avenue with a 5-3 victory.

Beckenham are in the top five in the table with 20 points from ten games.

“We move on to tomorrow’s game against, in my opinion, the best team in the league in Beckenham away from home, so arguably the toughest game of the season,” said Longhurst.

“Jason has some excellent attacking players in their ranks and this shows with them having one of the leading goalscorers (sixteen-goal striker Jamie Humphries) in the league in their team.

“We have had them watched the last couple of weeks and know all we need to know about them and go into the game under no pressure whatsoever with our current form and the way in which we are playing.

“We have added Chris Seenan to the squad from Tunbridge Wells and he will go straight into the sixteen-man squad.

“Sometimes when a player like Alfie leaves it leaves a gap for one of our other attacking players to take his mantle.

“I honestly believe that Jake (Britnell) and Denzel (Gayle) can do this and I look forward to seeing this happen over the next few weeks.

“It’s a difficult game on the best pitch in the league against a very good team but it’s a game we are very much looking forward to.”

FISHER joint-manager Billy Walton wants his side to start climbing the league table, starting with tomorrow’s trip to Sevenoaks Town.

The Fish booked their place in The FA Vase First Round when they will be at home to Crawley Down Gatwick in early November after coming away from Seaford Town with a convincing 4-0 win last weekend.

“Looking back last week in The FA Vase game, we did exactly what we needed to do,” said Walton.

“We got at them early and scored two very good goals and then kept on pressing in the right areas on the pitch to make them make mistakes.”

Looking forward to tomorrow’s game at Greatness Park, Fisher are in the bottom two, having collected two wins and two draws from ten games and are six points adrift of tenth-placed Holmesdale.

“We know Micky (Collins) will have them extremely well organised and up for the game,” said Walton.

“We need to go there and compete and if we compete and work hard we have loads of ability in the side to win the game.

“After the next ten league games I expect us to be in the top half of the table.”

THAMESMEAD TOWN have confirmed that seven-goal striker Tyrus Gordon-Young has left the club to sign for their Ryman League Division One North rivals Cray Wanderers.

Defender Callum McNaughton, meanwhile, has also left Bayliss Avenue and has signed for Maldon & Tiptree.