United boss Garry Wilson has agreed terms with two new additions to his senior squad, his first signings since the opening week of the Ryman League season in August.
Billy Medlock is a striker with whom Wilson held talks over the summer, although the twenty-three year old utlimately opted to sign for National League South side St Albans City instead, only to be released by the Hertforshire outfit earlier this month.
He has featured for several of the top non-league sides in Sussex, starting his career at Eastbourne Borough, before moving on to Horsham and Lewes, while he also made four appearances for the U's in a brief spell at the Pilot Field in December 2011.
It was at Eastbourne Town that Medlock came to prominence though, enjoying a superb 2013/14 campaign that earnt him a move to Tonbridge Angels ahead of the following season. Within a couple of months, he joined Sutton United, returning to Longmead on loan in March 2015, and subsequently choosing St Albans over a number of other clubs chasing his signature.
Bexhill United's goalscoring midfielder Chris Cumming-Bart is also set for a move to the Pilot Field, after making a highly impressive start to the season for the U's Southern Combination Football League neighbours.
The fomer Brighton & Hove Albion junior has also previously donned the claret and blue shirt, having made two League Cup appearances for United during the 2013/14 season, and scoring twice in six outings for the Under 21s.
it is hoped that both players will be registered in time to be in contention for Saturday's testing trip to face second placed Dorking Wanderers, unbeaten in their eight league games to date, the division's highest scorers with twenty-one goals to their credit, and no doubt looking to bounce back from their FA Cup exit at home to Slough Town last weekend.
Good signings and additions to the squad, though I now see it that we have 3 forwards who will all want to start, are they all going to be happy or is there a departure coming.
Hopefully no departure and hope it just increases the competition to play as a very strong looking forward line indeed now for this league but anything can happen in football.
Medlock with Jack or Zac does look a better fit as he's a smaller faster striker and they defiantly offer more physical attributes so balance might be better.
Reading the St Albans forums seems like most are disappointed he left and on previous threads most were naming him in preferred lineups but they'd brought in a striker from Dagenham & Redbridge and needed to free up some budget.
Their loss is hopefully our gain, a two division drop should mean he should flourish here but we need to ensure we play to his strengths ( ball on the ground, low crosses and through balls rather than lumped high and direct in the air )
I think I'd prob start him alongside Zac initially.
These look to be very good signings; but we now have a lot more forwards with talent and ability than can play each game. As others have said, it will be up to the management to keep them all happy and get an effective first choice combination. Also, without in any way wanting to strike an ill note, these players and the ones we already have will need to be paid. I hope that the playing budget does not get too strained...........
Good to see Gary and Danny are still active on the transfer front. Two good signings and I hope Chris can provide some badly needed creativity for our forward line which now looks stronger than ever. I think Tom and Chris in centre midfield could work.
Very happy see billy medlock at the club, bit unsure on Chris as feel we got loads of midfielders but I don't know enough about him to comment just feel other talent end up even further down the pecking order now
Two good signings, but I feel we need another midfielder. We have a really big squad with lots of options now but I still think we need a 'Scholes' type player. Someone who isn't afraid to commit to tackles and isn't afraid to strike the ball from 20+ yards out after a clearance from a cross. Don't get me wrong, Sam Cruttwell's goal against Dorking was stunning, but I don't know whether or not he's going to get regular minutes on the clock. We don't need to have Billy, Sammy, Zac and Jack with both Bright and Tyrell all on the bench, I feel to have a really strong midfielder alongside Sam Adams would be good.
Sorry mate got to disagree, Sam Adams is as close a to a 'Scholes type' midfielder as you can get with him regular goals and work rate. Also Tom Vickers and Jack Walder 'should' be more than capable really of being that string midfielder beside him. You've then also got SC, MH and CCB as well as options in Center mid with Cole back at LW from tues. I'd go back to 442, with Okoh, Adams, Vickers, Cole then Zac and Billy up front.
