Harrow Borough boss Dave Anderson says Carl McCluskey’s quality at both ends of the pitch was key to him signing the versatile player.
Anderson added the former Hendon, Wealdstone and Wingate & Finchley man to his squad last week and he made his debut in a much-needed 1-0 Ryman Premier triumph at Kingsmeadow.
McCluskey then scored his first goals for the club on Tuesday night, bagging a brace in a 7-0 Middlesex Senior Cup demolition job at Northwood.
And Anderson says McCluskey, who is capable of performing defensive and attacking duties, has been a long-term target.
“I’ve seen him play several times so was aware of what he can give us,” said Anderson. “I’ve liked him for a while but when he went from Wealdstone to Wingate & Finchley I missed out. I didn’t realise it was happening.
“He’s proven that’s he’s a Ryman Premier footballer and he can play in two or three positions, which is always handy. I just felt he was something different to what we have.”
McCluskey and another recent arrival Kamaron English will help fill the void created by the impending suspension of Nik Salapatas.
Salapatas, who scored the winner to sink Kingstonian, became the fifth player sent off in six games in the FA Trophy loss to Hornchurch at the start of the month.
Anderson might have shown the door to the winger, as he did with the previous offenders, but the Boro manager instead extended an olive branch to the Greek.
“I spoke to him severely after the sending off, reprimanded him for it and he took it the right way,” Anderson said.
“I just felt that he deserved a chance and I said to him he needs to show me that it isn’t going to happen again.
“Since Hornchurch, he’s worked hard in training, kept his head down and apologised to the players. It was nice for him to score the goal.”
Borough have no game this weekend as scheduled opponents Leatherhead are still in the FA Trophy, so next up is a clash with Bury Town at Earlsmead on Tuesday night.
Harrow’s tenants Hendon remain third in the Ryman Premier as goals from Sam Murphy, Kezie Ibe and Kevin Maclaren gave them a 3-2 win over Grays Athletic at the weekend.
However, they went out the Middlesex Senior Cup on Tuesday night going down 5-2 to Staines Town where Dave Diedhiou and Peter Dean were on target.
Hendon host Ryman One South side Worthing on Saturday in the FA Trophy second qualifying round before, replay permitting, travelling to Witham Town on Tuesday in the league.
Wembley saw their Spartan South Midlands Premier Division game at Kings Langley abandoned shortly into the second half because of the weather when they were trailing 1-0.
And a goal from Yassine Fehmi-Gil was not enough as the Lions, who have no scheduled game this week, were edged out 2-1 by North Greenford United in the Middlesex Senior Cup on Tuesday night.
Edgware Town were aiming to bounce back from their 3-0 at Arlesey Town Reserves in Division One at the weekend when they visited London Lions last night (Wednesday).
They host Bush Hill Rangers on Saturday before welcoming Wodson Park on Tuesday night.
In Hellenic League Division One East, Rayners Lane won 3-1 at Penn & Tylers Green at the weekend with goals from Jamel Mattan, Nathan Fearon and Reece Chaudry and host Burnham Reserves this weekend.
