Hollands & Blair’s battle to stay clear of a relegation scrap has been boosted by the recent arrival of experienced campaigner Ian Draycott.

Blair boss Darren Blackburn was quick to snap up the services of Draycott following his exit from Faversham Town and he scored within 13 minutes of his debut in a 3-0 win at Holmesdale.

Draycott spent almost a decade at Folkestone Invicta where he hit a club record 150 goals and the 36-year-old former Maidstone striker has had spells at Ashford United and Faversham before switching to Star Meadow.

Blackburn was delighted to get the player onboard to help his side during the last three months of the season.

He said: “It’s good to have that experience and he is quality on the ball, the way he’s able to link up the play.

“Even in the difficult conditions we played on Saturday (at Punjab) he was able to show what he’s capable of and what he can bring us, not that it was in any doubt in my mind.

“Definitely against Holmesdale he gave us that nice link between midfield and the front line and scored his goal with a run from deep and a clever finish. Most players wouldn’t have bothered sliding to get there before the goalkeeper but he was switched on enough to get an early slide in and tucked it under the keeper.

“We couldn’t get him in the game as much on Saturday because I think the ball spent 87 per cent of the time in the air - one end to the other - but when we did he showed the quality he has on the ball, picking out a few passes.

“We’ve got a lot of energy, a lot of endeavour and players who will develop as their careers develop but having him in there allows one or two others to do what they’re good at as well. It takes a bit of everything in a team to be successful.

“He has been a good addition and he’s a good guy. I’ve never worked with him before but he is a really nice lad.”

Blair lost 3-2 to Punjab United last Saturday, a game that wasn’t the best on the eye.

Joe Thomas put Blair ahead after just seven minutes but former Gillingham youth player Roman Campbell stole the show for the home side.

Blackburn said: “It wasn’t a particularly enjoyable game, from a performance or a result point of view. We came away with a few things we need to work on. Punjab did some of the things better than us and they deserved the three points over the 90 minutes.

“Roman Campbell was probably the difference. I spoke to him a few months back, I’m pleased he’s doing well, I just wished he didn’t do so well against us.

“From a financial point of view we were unable to do anything with him when we spoke but it’s good to see him back playing locally.”

Blair face another big challenge on Saturday when they welcome title-chasing VCD Athletic to Gillingham.