Herne Bay boss Ben Smith backs former Stoke City and Leicester City striker Marcel Barrington to ease goalscoring burden on Zak Ansah

Striker Marcel Barrington can ease the goalscoring burden on Herne Bay hitman Zak Ansah, says boss Ben Smith.

The powerhouse, formerly of Stoke and Leicester, is one of several players to join Bay ahead of their Isthmian Premier opener at Potters Bar this Sunday.

He joins from last season's Isthmian South East play-off semi-finalists Cray Valley after impressing in pre-season.

Smith said: “He’s a beast! He has played higher before and wants to step back up.

“It takes the weight and pressure off Zak, it’s not all on him to score 20 goals a season.

"Zak has had that pressure since he joined us, really.

“So we have managed to get Marcel in to ease the burden.

“They have got to get the goals, it’s never good to rely on one player and, really, it’s a squad game anyway. But the bulk of the pressure has always been with Zak.”

Centre-back Lexus Beeden is another big signing for the club.

“He has been quite highly sought-after,” said Smith on Beeden, who has previously played with Darlington and Reading, and had trials at Middlesbrough.

“He’s a man-mountain and a good age.

"He came to us highly recommended and he hasn’t disappointed. He has got a lot of potential.”

Herne Bay have brought in defender Keano Robinson, too, who last season was at Hayes & Yeading.

Smith added: “He has got good experience. He narrowly missed out last season on getting into National South (as Hayes lost to Farnborough in the Southern League Premier South play-off final).

“He comes in and adds a bit of experience to the squad.

"He’s a good leader as well.”

With Bay dealing with injuries and unavailability, others brought in include promising teenage striker Kymani Thomas, forward Hassan Jalloh, ex-Sheppey defender Jahmal Howlett-Mundle and former VCD