Video: Common boss hails new signing

Wes Tate closes down a Lingfield opponent at the Recreation Ground on Tuesday night. Picture by Simon Newstead

Tate has scored seven goals in two games since joining Common at the end of last week, following up his debut hat-trick against Selsey on Saturday with four at home to Lingfield on Tuesday night.

Eldridge said: “For me it’s an honour to play with him again having grown up playing with him with his youth football here.

“He’s finally returned back to the club where it all started and I know grandad (Common founder Ken Cherry, who died in January) would’ve been pleased to see him here as well.”

Tate has enjoyed a successful career with a number of clubs in the area. He joined Macron Store Southern Combination Football League Division One team Common from an Eastbourne Town side which he helped finish second in the Premier Division last season.

“It’s a great signing and he brings more to the team than goals,” continued Eldridge. “He creates chances as well and he brings that little bit of experience and knowhow, and that winning mentality which maybe we lack at times.

“He’s fitted into the dressing room really well and I think in the two games so far his class has shown.”

Tate’s goals helped freescoring Common see off Selsey 5-0 and Lingfield 6-2, and the club has already scored 42 goals in all competitions this season.

Wes Tate is congratulated by Russell Eldridge, Dom Bristow and Lewis Hole after scoring one of his four goals against Lingfield. Picture by Simon Newstead

Speaking after the Lingfield game, Eldridge said: “There’s never a dull moment. When you come to the Rec you can always guarantee there will be goals; which net it ends up in is a lottery sometimes.

“This week has been good for us to get back on track after a frustrating week last week, losing in the (FA) Vase and dropping points in the league.

“To score 11 goals in two games has been a fantastic response. All in all I’m really pleased.

“The first half of the first half we played well and I thought we were going to take control. Second half of the first half we just lost our way a little bit and I was happy to go in (at half time) at 1-1.

“Second half we used the wind a little bit to our advantage and their ill-discipline helped us as well. To score five goals in the second half and win 6-2 was a good result.”

Common are up to third in the league with 18 points from nine games, and are the division’s leading scorers with 31 goals.

“We’re happy with the way that we’ve started,” added Eldridge. “We’ve only lost three games and two of those have been in cup matches.

“We’ve got a run of league games where it’s important we pick up points and just make sure we keep ourselves up there or thereabouts. It does seem to be fairly open with teams taking points off each other.

“The squad’s great at the moment, and it’s hard for me to pick that starting XI and pick the squad as well with sometimes having people missing out. I guess that’s a good headache at times and that competition for places is there.”

Common are away to Billingshurst in the league tomorrow (Saturday) before hosting Langney Wanderers in round two of the Division One Challenge Cup on Tuesday, kick-off 7.15pm.  See our comprehensive sports coverage in the Observer every Friday.  Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live. Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on. 1 Make this website your homepage 2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex 3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex 4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here. And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!