Margate boss Nikki Bull has made his second big capture of the week by signing the man who topped the Vanarama National League South scoring charts last season.

Elliott Buchanan scored 28 league goals for Bishop's Stortford last season - and 34 in total - including five in two games against the Blues.

He scored the Hertfordshire club's goal in a 1-1 draw at Hartsdown Park in January, and followed up with all four as the Gate were beaten 4-1 at the ProKit UK Stadium in April.

Bull admitted he had 'worked extremely hard' to close the deal on Wednesday morning, revealing that the 26-year-old striker was always one of his top four targets.

Bull, who brought in former Havant & Waterlooville midfielder Scott Donnelly on Monday, said: "I'm over the moon to have signed Elliott. He ticks all the boxes as far as I'm concerned.

"He's an established player at this level who knows where the goal is and I believe his best years are ahead of him.

"He's certainly not a luxury striker who just comes alive in the six-yard box. He's capable of scoring with his left foot, his right foot and his head, and even in games I watched when he's not scored he was a real threat in terms of his workrate and his closing down.

"He never gives defenders a moment's rest. I certainly think Margate fans will take to him."

Buchanan has played for a host of clubs throughout his career including St Albans, Staines Town, Concord Rangers and Slough Town, where he was player-of-the year.

He also played in the Conference Premier for Hayes and Yeading United, and Newport County, bagging 21 goals in 58 starts during his two seasons at those clubs.

He netted a hat-trick on his Stortford debut against Havant & Waterlooville, and his nine goals in seven games earned him the Vanarama National League South player-of-the-month award for August.

Bull said Buchanan's pedigree is unquestioned and he hopes the player will continue to thrive at Hartsdown. He added: "I asked Elliott as I do all the players I speak to 'What do you want to do with your career?' I told him I don't want people coming here just to go through the motions.

"I said we're going to have a competitive team and that we are looking to achieve things and I think he could see, that with the signing of Scott Donnelly, we are going to be a side that creates chances.

"I felt that with how he played last year for Stortford he needs to do it in a different environment and if he does that teams from the league above will recognise that."