Darren Blackburn’s triple signing has given Sittingbourne fresh impetus.

Blackburn handed debuts to Harry Stannard, Tyler Christian-Law and substitute Jedd Smith in the Brickies’ 1-0 win over VCD at Woodstock on Saturday.

He dipped into the market following back-to-back defeats by Cray Valley and Haywards Heath.

The manager is a long-time admirer of former Gillingham youth forward Stannard, who set up Kane Rowland’s first-half winner against VCD after joining from Isthmian South East rivals Whitstable.

While delighted to get the deal done, he’s apologised to new Town boss Keith McMahon for not informing him of the seven-day approach.

Blackburn, whose side sit eighth, said: “Keith’s just taken over at Whitstable and I have to apologise to him because I thought I had his number but I didn’t.

“I normally give managers a heads-up but it was all done so efficiently I didn’t get a chance to speak to him.

"Harry's a really good signing for us. They did try to keep him, they asked what we offered, but it wasn’t about money.

“I don’t know what he was on at Whitstable but we haven’t offered him the earth, he’s come here on sensible money.

“He knows a few of our players and was very interested in coming over and joining the scrap at our end of the table.

“By his own admission he’s not a No.9, he prefers to play the No.10 or out wide.

“We put him wide-right on Saturday and it worked well for us.

“He offers us a different type of movement and it’s good to have him on board.”

Christian-Law was sent off for two yellow cards but that didn’t detract from an impressive debut from the midfielder, who’s joined from Coggershall Town.

Injuries to Danny Taylor and Toby Ajala had left Sittingbourne short of legs in midfield but Christian-Law and Smith, the other new arrival from Leatherhead, have changed that.

“Tyler was brilliant,” said Blackburn. “He’s gets around the pitch, he’s energetic, he makes these lung-bursting runs from deep to get up and support the striker.

“He’s actually someone I spoke to in the summer but he ended up going to Coggershall.

“He’s so athletic, as is Jedd, who can play No.8, No.10 or out wide as well.

“Jedd joins us from the league above and was recommended to me by Steve King at Dartford several months ago. He’s one we kept an eye on."

Meanwhile, Blackburn has confirmed Joe Docherty remains his first-choice goalkeeper.

He was left out at Haywards Heath after a dip in form but was due to return against VCD, only to suffer a neck injury before the game.

Harry Brooks kept a clean sheet in his absence but Docherty is the club’s No.1.

Blackburn said: “Docs was supposed to start but he had a niggle in his neck.

“Fair play to him, he could have kept quiet about it and played but he was honest.

“He didn’t want to cost the team or cost us any points and that shows character.

“Docs is the No.1 - I told him that when I signed him - and Brooksy understands that.

“They get on well, they support each other, they warm each other up. We’re lucky to have two guys like that.”

Sittingbourne were due at Three Bridges in the Velocity Trophy first round last night (Tuesday).

They meet again in the league on Saturday, this time at Woodstock.

Blackburn said: “We’ll play a certain way in the cup, see if it works, and if not we might play a different way on Saturday.

“We’ll have played 12 league games after the weekend, that’s roughly a third of the way through the season, and we’ll really look to settle things down after that.”

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