Bearsted are aiming to take the next step and finish in the Southern Counties East play-offs.

The Bears were in contention for a top-five spot for much of last season before tailing off and ending seventh.

After punching above their weight, manager Kevin Stevens hopes a number of key signings will help them last the pace.

Bearsted boasted the meanest defence in the Premier Division, with only 43 goals conceded in 40 matches.

And they’ve added the likes of ex-Football League man Jason Banton, Connor French, Billy Lewins and Jesse Darko in attacking areas.

Banton is a particularly exciting arrival having been on the books of Liverpool, Leicester and Crystal Palace youngster, as well as playing plenty of EFL matches at Plymouth.

“We had a good season last year,” said Stevens.

“We probably exceeded our expectations.

“We were in the play-offs for about three months but you don’t go straight from being 12th-15th all the time to finishing in the play-offs unless you’ve got a massive budget, which we haven’t.

“We punched above our weight. It was just unfortunate we had three really important players injured late on and stopped our momentum but this season we’ve added seven players more or less all in attacking positions who are creative and score goals.

“That’s what we missed out on last year. Defensively we conceded the least in the league, so we were really good, but we didn’t create enough for how much we had possession.

“Previously, we tried to outscore teams and it was great to watch but when you’re conceding a lot as well, it hurts.

“We changed it last year and said we needed to be a lot tighter defensively.

“I don’t think that took away from our attacking threat, it’s just when we got to the final third we weren’t potent enough.

“We’ve improved that a lot with some good signings, to go with the 17 players we kept, so we’re very excited about the season.”

With more options going forward, it’s all systems go for a play-off push.

Stevens added: “We’re ready to take the next step.

“We were a little bit unlucky last season, although I don’t think we were quite ready personally.

“We didn’t speak about play-offs last year, even when we were in them - we didn’t want to put pressure on a young squad - but this year that’s our goal.

“With the players we’re signing I think people will look at it and think, ‘Crikey, they’ve got a lot of money’.

“The budget’s gone up slightly but it’s not a lot, it’ll be in the lower third of the league, 100%

“Someone like Jason Banton’s played professionally and he came down and just loved what our ambitions are.

“He said, ‘Do you know what, I’ve had had some really good offers’, but he’s coming here for a lot less money. It shows we’re moving in the right direction. It’s exciting to be involved in.”

Banton scored in Bearsted’s 4-1 friendly defeat by Maidstone on Saturday, with Abie Thibault and Will Johnson-Cole on target in a 3-2 loss at Ramsgate on Tuesday night.

Bears are next in friendly action at Deal tonight (7.45pm).