Chelmsford City have signed one of the region's most prolific non-league goal scorers - 29-year-old Gary Bennett - and he goes straight into the side to lead the attack in Saturday's Dr Martens League match at Wisbech Town.

Bennett, who scored 36 goals in 40 games for Braintree Town in the 1997/98 season and another 16 in 24 games last season, was signed from Jewson League Premier Division championship contenders AFC Sudbury on Wednesday for what was described "a small nominal transfer fee.''

The diminutive and speedy striker, who has been regularly scoring goals for the Suffolk side this season, has signed a two-and-a-half year contract for City, and his signature will delight fans who have been crying out for a true goal poacher.

City manager Gary Bellamy said: "I'm delighted to have signed a player of Gary's ability and a proven goalscorer in senior non-league football.

''We have been looking to strengthen the side in the run-in for promotion but we also look upon his capture with a longer-term view in mind.

"His arrival will be a boost for everyone, particularly the other players around him," he said. "He not only knows how to score goals but the other aspects of his play will benefit the side."

Bellamy knows that a lack of goals has been a worry for some time.

Bennett, who has always been idolised by fans wherever he has played, should prove an instant hit with City fans if he can reproduce his predatory goalscoring skills in the claret shirt.

Gary Bennett, who has signed a two-and-a-half year contract with Chelmsford City.

Promotion still on

"We are still very much in the promotion hunt with 17 games to play - 10 of those being at home" was the upbeat message from City man ager Gary Bellamy on Thursday, following some verbal criticism by supporters after Saturday's goalless draw with Hastings.

"We are confident and we have everything to play for - we simply have to start a winning run and pick-up three points every game if possible," he said. "In theory we can end up with 99 points but even by dropping a few and if we collect 90 points, it should be good enough.

"The other sides chasing promotion have all to play one another so in many ways it's all in our hands," he said.

"I know we have allowed a gap in points between us and the two sides but promotion is still very much on."

Missing from tomorrow's match at Wisbech will be striker Steve Morris, who is unavailable.

City have further strengthened their meagre squad with the signing of teenager Simon Glover, a former QPR youngster who more recently was at Ashford Town, where new City coach Paul Parker was involved, plus promising young winger Benson Miyoba from Burnham Ramblers.

City drop vital points

CHELMSFORD CITY..0

HASTINGS TOWN.......0

(Dr Martens League Eastern Division)

City put a dent in their own promotion ambitions with a disappointing display at New Lodge on Saturday when they deservedly had to share the spoils against a strong and at times robust Sussex side.

Having made all the running and created several goal scoring chances in the first half, City allowed the visitors to come back after the interval and gain the upper hand, resulting in the proverbial 'game of two halves' scenario.

City simply need to win their 'catch-up' matches to stand even a chance of challenging current promotion favourites Folkestone Invicta and Fisher Athletic so this was two points lost rather than a point gained.

While promotion is still within their reach, City cannot afford more results like this and although defensively they have no problems, midfield and attack need strengthening now if the club's ambition is to be achieved.

Supporters had expected to see a couple of fresh, experienced faces on loan for this game, but they failed to materialise and it was a contributing factor in the result.

City had the chances though, notably in the first half when twice Steve Morris saw efforts charged down and then a Scott Darton free-kick was cleared.

The best chance was on 36 minutes when a fine right wing move, started and finished by Ollie Berquez, and involving Ben Fuller and Brett Girling with the final header being snatched form underneath the crossbar by goalkeeper Tony Kessell.

At the other end, City goal keeper Paul Catley was called on three times to hold on to difficult long range shots but for most of half City were on top.

Nine minutes after the restart and City were unlucky not have opened the scoring when Berquez hit the crossbar with a header with Kessell beaten all ends up.

Then Fuller fired the rebound over the bar when it seemed easier to have slid the ball along the ground into the empty net.

From then on the visitors grew in confidence and but for a couple of fine saves from the alert Catley at the other end they could have snatched all three points.

City's best chance of the half came in the 75th minute when Fuller skipped through the Hastings' defence but with only Kessell to beat it looked odds on a goal, but the youngster stopped in his tracks and tried to drag the ball back and the chance was lost.

Two minutes from time the adventurous Shane Wardley weaved his way through, only to see his 30-yard shot dip narrowly over the crossbar.

In all honesty it would have been an injustice had City won - a draw was the fairest result and they will have to do better when they face the difficult trip tomorrow (Saturday), to Fenland Park to take on uncompromising Wisbech Town side.

Chelmsford City: Catley; B Girling, Wardley, J Girling, Bishop; Fuller, Newby, Bailey, Darton; Berquez and Morris.

Attendance: 532.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.