Leatherhead boss Richard Brady recruited one new name in the summer, and if first impressions are anything to go by, it was a good move.

Phil Walsh will lead the Tanners attack and the striker opened his account in the first pre-season friendly on Saturday by banging in a hat-trick in a 3-1 win at Corinthian.

Walsh, 31, played in last season’s FA Trophy semi-final with Bath City, but, as a Londoner, has joined Brady at Fetcham Grove to cut down on the travelling.

Brady said: “Bath did not want Phil to leave. Not only because he’s a great striker, but also because he has a strong family connection with the club – his dad used to play from them.

“It’s a sign that he only travelled to Bath to play and that they sent a car for him of how much they wanted him to stay.

“But he finally decided the travelling was too much, and although other clubs were in for him, we had a chat and he decided to come to us, which is great.”

The Tanners pre-season work continued at Three Bridges on Wednesday night, before a trip to Sutton Athletic on Saturday.