EAST Thurrock United have been boosted by the timely return of midfielder Connor Witherspoon – only a month after he left the club to join Maldon & Tiptree.

Rocks manager John Coventry admitted he was surprised when the 20-year-old told him he wanted to leave the Ryman Premier League club, where he enjoyed a breakthrough season last year, for the Ryman One North – albeit with an ambitious Maldon team that had announced a link-up with League One Colchester United.

And Witherspoon has now decided he would rather ply his trade at Rookery Hill, after he told the Echo five weeks ago he was excited at being involved in the new project at Maldon.

Echosport understands Witherspoon requested Maldon released him after he wasn’t guaranteed a starting berth, and Coventry said he was pleased to have him back.

“Connor made a decision to join Maldon and that hasn’t quite worked out for him,” he said. “We know Connor and he is a good lad who knows the way we do things.

“He went for the right reasons but he gave me a call and asked if he could come back and I said yes and we are pleased to have him back.”

The Rocks chief is still in the process of building his team, with a new goalkeeper top of his wish list, but he says the players he has brought in have improved the squad from last season.

The Rookery Hill side beat Essex Senior League outfit Burnham Ramblers 5-2 on Saturday in their third pre-season match this month, following a win over Witham Town and defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge.

And they visit Ryman One North side Cheshunt tonight, a side expected to challenge for promotion this year.

But Coventry said it is not the result that matters.

“Pre-season as a whole is going very well,” he said. “I haven’t announced everything yet as I still have a few on trial and I still have some decisions to make but things are looking good.

“Cheshunt are a side who play football the right way. I know Glen (Alzapiedi – Cheshunt manager) well and they are an ambitious side off the pitch so I presume they will be on it too.”

Goalkeeper David Hughes joined Enfield Town in a surprise switch at the end of the season leaving Rocks without a recognised stopper.

And although Coventry says he has two goalkeepers on trial, he says he is unsure whether one or both will stay on.

“I don’t want to make a decision yet,” he said. “We may not need a number two goalkeeper so I am going to see how they progress and make a decision when I am ready.

“The other new signings are all fitting in well. Tom Wraight, Rickie Hayles, Ryan Scott have all been doing well and Sammy Knott (formerly of Aveley) and George Craddock (former Northampton scholar and Margate midfielder) have joined and both will play an important part.”