TJ Jadama stole the headlines from new signing Rowan Liburd as Ramsgate retained top spot in Isthmian South East.

Local lad Jadama scored the first hat-trick of his career in Rams’ 4-1 home win over Burgess Hill on Saturday.

He took all three goals well as Steve Lovell’s side came from 1-0 down, with Ashley Miller completing the scoring.

“It was a great hat-trick,” said Rams boss Lovell. “He played really well, it wasn’t just his goals.

“That performance typifies him. He’s brilliant.

“He’s a good lad, he loves his football and he loves the club. He was so chuffed after the game.

“It was a good team effort but obviously he stood out because of the hat-trick.

“They were all brilliant goals but I think the third one stands out the most, when he went through and dinked it over the keeper.

“It was an important goal, too, because it put us 3-1 up with five or 10 minutes to go, and then Ashley got the last one.

“It was a really good performance by us. We’ve scored four and could have had a lot more but their keeper was excellent.”

Ramsgate handed a debut to big striker Liburd following his arrival from National South club Cheshunt, where he’d scored 25 goals in his previous 39 games.

The 6ft5in frontman has dropped two levels, with Rams paying an undisclosed fee.

“We’ve been looking for a targetman, a big No.9, all season,” said Lovell.

“We’ve been given a few but it’s important they fit in with our dressing room, as well as what they do on the field, and Rowan is a great lad.

“He’s got great pedigree and he scores goals.

“He’s a big centre-forward who holds it up and brings others into play and he did that on Saturday with Kane Rowland, who I thought was outstanding alongside him.

“It’s great to have him on board. That was the first time he’d met the boys on Saturday and we were pleased to get him 75 minutes.

“He wanted out of Cheshunt for one reason or another, he was looking for a new challenge and we were made aware of him.

“We talked to him to see if we could persuade him to come down.

“We got on well, he knew the ambition of the club, so it was a no-brainer for him in the end.

“It’s unusual to pay a fee at this level but it shows what the club want to achieve and they’re all backing us 100% in what we want to do.

“There’s still a long way to go but we’re in the mix and signing players of Rowan’s quality gives us an opportunity to stay up there.”

Ramsgate visit Three Bridges this Saturday (3pm), a team they beat 4-1 at Southwood in November.

There could be another new signing in place before the match.

“It’ll be a different type of game to when we played them at home,” said Lovell.

“We beat them quite easily in the end but I thought they were a good side and we’ll need to give it everything on Saturday.

“There’s still a couple of players we’re talking to.

“I hope to have one more in by the weekend at least. I’m quite happy with the squad but if there’s a chance to strengthen, we’ll do it.”