Pinney: I want to stay at Priory Lane next season

Pinney has notched 18 goals in all competitions so far this term, 14 of which have come in the league.

“I have already spoken to the gaffer (Tommy Widdrington) and I want to stay for next season. Tommy is a great bloke and a good manager. We are trying to build something here and I want to be part of that next season. I like it here and I like the club.”

The former Crystal Palace striker has also played a huge role in Borough’s recent rise up the table.

Just two months ago they were struggling for form and conceding goals at an alarming rate as they languished dangerously close the National League south drop zone.

But a five-game unbeaten run, including aways wins at Whitehawk and Margate, have helped propel Pinney and his teammates to ninth in the table, seven points off the play-offs with 13 league games remaining.

“We went through a sticky patch where we were very inconsistent but we seem to have come through that now,” Pinney said.

“We carried on working hard in training and we had to dig deep. There were a few times we would get on each others backs but the gaffer stuck by us and we stuck together as a team. We are too good to be a team at the bottom and we are showing everyone that now.

“Everyone is buzzing again in training and hopefully we can keep performing on match days. We were set a target of finishing in the top 10. We are ninth now and who knows, if we can get a few more wins, we could have a late push for the play-offs.”

Pinney joined Borough from Kingstonian in December 2014. There were a few doubters among the crowd when he first arrived but the 25-year-old responded in the best possible manner.

“You always get critics in football but I just let my feet do the talking,” Pinney added. “I’m feeling great at the moment, I feel sharp and ready to perform for the team. I want to get 20 goals this season, that’s the target.

“I got 23 a few seasons ago for Carshalton in the Ryman and I would love to go on and beat that.”

Pinney has thrived on competition for places this season and he’s made it almost impossible for Widdrington to leave him out.

Jamie Taylor has recently arrived on loan while Elliott Romain, Darren Lok and Gavin McCallum are all jostling for a place in the Borough attack.

Pinney added, “You have to keep on your toes as the competition is fierce but that’s a good thing and it’s not just up front, we have competition for places all over the pitch. JT (Jamie Taylor) has come in and he’s doing his thing.

“He’s a good striker to play alongside and hopefully the goals will keep coming.”

Margate match report on page 107