BRAD Warner is under pressure to deliver as a Bowers & Pitsea frontman, according to boss Rob Small.

Having featured predominantly on the left-wing as Bowers clinched the Isthmian North title last season, Warner has been heavily involved as a striker in the club’s first ever campaign in the third tier of non-league football.

David Knight’s October exit for Tilbury has resulted in Warner’s importance to Bowers growing and Small admits the former Hornchurch man has big shoes to fill.

“We lost David Knight, so we wanted to play Brad Warner down the middle more regularly,” said Small.

“When Brad agreed to rejoin us midway through last season, he said he wanted to play as a striker rather than on the wing but, due to the form of David and Lewis Manor, it wasn’t possible to do that.

“Brad knows he is under pressure to deliver in his new role because David had a great track record for us.”

Warner returned to the Len Salmon Stadium for a second spell 13 months ago having won the Isthmian North title with Hornchurch and he achieved the same feat with Bowers last term.

And Warner now has 11 goals for the campaign after scoring both goals in the 2-0 victory over Potters Bar Town at the weekend.

“It was great that he got two goals on Saturday and he is now in double figures for the season,” added Small.

“The first goal was a poacher’s finish because Max Cornhill had a shot and then Brad was there for the follow-up.

“Brad’s second goal came after he chased a lost cause because he dispossessed the defender and tapped home.

“He has the goalscoring instinct and we need him to keep scoring goals.”