Chelmsford City have signed 20-year-old midfielder Keith Newby from Cambridge City and he goes straight into the side for Saturday's potentially difficult Dr Martens League Eastern Division match at Witney Town (kick off 3pm).

Grimsby-born and now living in London, Newby, who can also play on the wing, was a professional at Nationwide League Cambridge United before crossing over the city to Milton Road where he has been in their Dr Martens League Premier Division side this season.

"Kevin is a tricky player, good on the ball and will again give us more options in midfield," City manager Gary Bellamy said yesterday. "I think that he will do a good job for us and fit in with our style of play."

To make way for Newby, City have released the former Margate winger Paul Pilkington who has not impressed during his short stay with the club.

City could also have a new striker on their books next week with 23-year-old former Wrex-ham professional, Steve Morris, being given a run out in next Wednesday's Eastern Floodlight Competition match at Southend Manor.

Morris, who is now a policeman, played in Southport's successful FA Trophy final side before moving south.

He was due to train with the City first team last night (Thursday) and will travel with the side to Witney tomorrow.

Bellamy said that he would be looking for three more points there and that City were still currently handily placed with at least a couple of games in hand on some other clubs in the Eastern Division.

"The leading clubs have yet to play each other and they have been dropping points so we have to keep on our game and take up the advantage we have," he said.

"I have also said the period between now and February would be a telling one, particularly with difficult ground conditions, so I am confident we will be up there."

The manager will have Tesfaye Bramble back in the side for the trip to Oxfordshire - the youngster was forced to leave the field with concussion at half time in Saturday's win over Sittingbourne.

"We did miss him in the second half but overall I was pleased with the performance," Bellamy said.

"We controlled the first half and created many chances but some of the players began to become anxious because they were missing them.

"They will have to learn to relax more and it will come good," he said.

"The young stand-in goalkeeper Gavin Kelly did exceptionally well, particularly early in the second half when Sittingbourne came back strongly, and I was more than pleased with the contribution of Mark Kane.

"His experience and influence in midfield was just what we needed," he added. "We are playing better but we still need the confidence to put away the goalscoring chances."

John Girling will again be missing from the City line-up, the defender having still not recovered from injury.

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