Ramsgate boss Ben Smith has described new signing Medy Elito as a real coup for the club.

Elito, 33, brings plenty of Football League experience to Southwood, having played for Colchester, Dagenham, Newport and Cambridge.

He had spells with Barnet and Wealdstone in the National League before spending last season at Welling in National South.

The midfielder scored on his first pre-season appearance, a 7-2 friendly win over Canterbury on Tuesday last week, and impressed again in Saturday’s comfortable 2-0 victory against Faversham.

“He’s someone who’s very calm in possession,” said Rams boss Smith.

“He picks the right pass, at the right moment, and has bags of composure on the ball.

“He’s not had a chance to train but he’s played in the last two friendlies and looked good.

“With pre-season training he’ll get sharper and sharper - he’s a real coup for us.

“He plays on the wing or an attacking midfield position and just glides past people.

“I’m really excited to get him on board.

“We talk about experience and he’s mainly played in the Football League.

“We’ve made it very clear what the strategy is, experienced, technical players, with young players around that, and we are sticking to that.

“We’ve not moved away from that in one signing we’ve made.”

Ramsgate have added to their local talent by signing 16-year-old Tristan Holden.

The son of former Margate and Ramsgate striker Scott Holden, the teenager came off the bench to set up a goal against Faversham.

He moves to Southwood from the youth set-up at Margate, and, Smith says, has “an awful lot of potential”.

Another local lad impressed at the weekend, with centre-half Louie Procopi taking his chance to shine against the Lilywhites.

The 17-year-old, an earlier summer addition from Margate, was handed a start after Joe Ellul pulled up injured in the warm-up.

“It was a great experience for him, for his first start in men’s football,” said Smith.

“He’s come in and contained Warren Mfula and Gary Lockyer.

“That’s a tough pair to face - they don’t come harder than that at this level - and he’s come through it with flying colours.

“His ceiling is so high. I’m excited to see where his career goes. If he performs like that, he’s going to have a lot of clubs looking at him.

“His performance has got a lot of people excited because, as a young lad coming through, that’s what community clubs want.

“There’s a couple of others we’re going to sign and have in our training squad because, with the experienced boys we’ve got, they’re going to come on a lot quicker.”

Rams led Faversham through an own goal, with Rowan Liburd adding the second on his return from international duty with St Kitts and Nevis in the Gold Cup.

“It was the first time I’d met him,” said Smith.

“He was a lot bigger than I thought. He’s come back and put a lot of muscle on. We’re excited to have a better look at him.

“We started with Jordan Green up front but obviously it gives us another option.

“I thought Faversham would be a good test of where we’re at.

“We had 68% possession, we looked very comfortable, so I think we’re ahead of where I thought we might be.

“We’re looking good at the minute, very good, because we know Faversham are a good side.

“If they were in our league you’d be saying they were one of the favourites but if it had been six, they couldn’t have complained.”

Ramsgate host Hastings on Saturday (3pm) and entertain Minster in the Thanet Cup on Tuesday (7.45pm). Entry to both games is free.