STANWAY ROVERS have bolstered their fire-power by signing Ben Newson from Ryman League neighbours BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT.

Boss Angelo Harrop has confirmed that the wide midfielder and last season’s club skipper, Pip Boyland, have penned contracts at The Hawthorns.

Newson is a former Stanway player who finished joint-top of Regent’s scoring charts last term, netting 18 goals.

It was his form during his previous spell at the club that brought him to the attention of Ryman League side Heybridge Swifts.

He then had two very successful years at Scraley Road before joining Brightlingsea.

Now he is back at The Hawthorns and has become the club’s second close-season signing, following in the footsteps of Terry Rymer, who recently joined from AFC Sudbury.

Boyland, meanwhile, was exceptional last season and won the club’s supporters’ player-of-the-year prize.

He was a major factor in Rovers finishing third in the Thurlow Nunn League.

“I’m over the moon about both players signing contracts,” said Harrop.

“It shows we’re going in the right direction.”