Rocky's ready for relegation fight

By David Watters

Eastbourne Town

Eastbourne Town are hoping veteran striker Rocky Baptiste and four more new faces will boost their Ryman South survival mission.

With his side rock-bottom after securing one win from twelve league outings, manager Tony Reid has signed forward Rishi Nankani, midfielder Charlie Gee and keeper Sam Johnson-Freeman from Sandhurst Town, former Crawley Down Gatwick left-back Miles Mitchell from Horsham and vastly experienced striker Baptiste.

He missed a penalty on his debut in Saturday's 0-0 draw at home to East Thurrock United in the FA Trophy and was denied the chance to quickly make amends when Tuesday night's First Qualifying Round Replay in Essex was postponed.

Baptiste, now 40, has enjoyed a well-travelled career that has taken in stops at the likes of Hayes, Luton Town, Farnborough Town, Stevenage Borough, Margate, Havant & Waterlooville, Maidenhead United, Harrow Borough and Wingate & Finchley.

He is something of a cult figure in Non-League football, most notably for his heroics in the FA Cup. He scored against Arsenal for Farnborough in 2003 and at Havant in 2008 his goal earned a Third Round replay with Swansea City.

Baptiste would score again in a famous victory in South Wales to force a Fourth Round tie with Liverpool at Anfield where he's pictured battling Liverpool's Javier Mascherano.

Nankani has previously been on the books at Welling United, Bedfont Town and Godalming Town, while Gee is a former AFC Wimbledon player who has represented England at Futsal. Johnson-Freeman joined the Fizzers in March 2013 and has previous experience with Molesey.

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