Sam Denly has landed long-term target Ian Pulman and wants him to score the goals to help Herne Bay preserve their Ryman League, Division 1 South status.

The striker completed his move from Canterbury City on Tuesday, joining former team-mate Taser Hassan at Winch’s Field – who joined last week – and will make his debut at Ramsgate, the club where he started the season, on Boxing Day.

Bay boss Denly said: “Pully is a quality player. He struggled with a knee injury earlier this season but has been scoring goals for City recently. Hopefully, it’s the right time to sign him.”

The deal until the end of the season has been done with the help of the 12th Man Society, set-up by the Bay directors to provide Denly with funds for a striker, having been looking to finance a replacement for Stuart Zanone.

Denly said: “People will talk up Pully’s links with Ramsgate and have an eye on it but for me it’s more than that.

“It’s a massive game and the start of a busy Christmas and New Year programme as we look to kick-start our season.”

Hassan made his debut as a second-half substitute in Bay’s 1-0 home defeat by Horsham on Saturday and Denly added: “He has got pace and plays out wide and can create opportunities for Pully, Mark Lovell and Danny Williams.”

The result saw Bay slip back into the bottom four, having taken only three points out of a possible 18.

Denly added: “We have got to be better and beat teams like that. We hit the woodwork three times and missed another opportunity from five yards at the end.

“I didn’t go away feeling sorry for ourselves, just disappointed after what was just one of those days. We have to forget about it and go again.”

Joe Nelder is struggling with a groin problem, while Denly is also concerned about Danny Walder who was carried off against Horsham with an ankle injury.

Adam Woolcott is poised to return to training after recovering from a sprained ankle and ligament damage.