CHRIS Ellerbeck says he is not prepared to give up his place in Wealdstone's starting XI without a fight.
The former Ware striker made the most of a rare start with a stylish hat-trick to sink Boreham Wood in last week's 3-1 Ryman League Cup win.
And having got off the mark in emphatic fashion, Ellerbeck is determined to keep hold of his place for Saturday's FA Trophy third qualifying round trip to Farnborough. He started Tuesday's 3-2 Ryman Premier win over Cray Wanderers, which lifted Stones to fifth in the table, but faces stiff competition from Greg Ngoyi, available again after completing a three-match ban. Charlie Mpi and Ross Lafayette have also impressed this season while defender James Gray is sometimes deployed in attack.
All bring something different to the party with Ellerbeck preferring the ball into feet and linking up play with the midfield.
"I'm happy to get off the mark, it's nice to start with a hat-trick," said Ellerbeck, 25. "I'd forgotten what it is like to score and I'm a confident player, so it was nice to get them. Hopefully I can push on from here and get regular football but it's going to be difficult when you have four very good strikers competing for two places. But we're all mates at the end of the day and you want that competition in the squad as it brings out the best in everyone.
"It's my shirt to lose now and I don't want to sit on the bench every week. I never expected to start against Rotherham but it showed the manager has faith in my ability. When a team is winning there is no reason for the manager to change things but, with Greg being out, I have come in and hopefully shown what I can do. I'm definitely in a stronger position than what I was."
Ellerbeck, who had a brief spell with Harlow last season before getting game time under his belt at Waltham Abbey at the start of the current campaign, is enjoying life at Grosvenor Vale despite not being a permanent fixture so far.
He says the tight-knit squad is a pleasure to be a part of and thinks the all-for-one, one-for-all spirit has been pivotal to Stones' impressive season to date.
"This group of lads is the best and closest I've ever been involved with," he added. "It's a great club to play for and it's very unique that you get that closeness at this level. Everyone is on the same side and all share the same goal, which is to get the club promoted from this league."
