Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Grant awaits City debut
Canterbury City
Dean Grant has completed his move to Canterbury City – but has to wait to make his debut.
The former Faversham Town striker, who joined from Whitstable, completes a threematch ban this week, following his red card for the Oystermen in their 6-1 home defeat against South Park at the end of January.
Grant coaches at Canterbury Academy, where joint City boss Ben Smith works as a PE teacher, so their paths cross on a daily basis, which led to his move to City.
Smith said: “The fact we work together helps. Dean is a proven goalscorer at this level and I played with him and against him.
“He is looking forward to teaming up alongside Jordan Casey.”
As Grant arrives, City midfielder Sam Staunton is settling in at Deal Town, joining former team-mate Steve Baines at the Charles Ground.
Smith said: “Sam had a back injury earlier in the season, which knocked him out of his rhythm and found it difficult to find it again.”
Casey grabbed a late equaliser as City recovered from what Smith described as a nightmare opening, coming from 2-0 down to draw 3-3 against Erith Town at Eltham on Tuesday.
They conceded twice in the first 10 minutes before Jamie Bosio pulled one back before half-time, his first goal for the club.
Casey made it 2-2 just before the hour, before Damian Ramsamy got Erith’s third with 17 minutes to go.
However, there was still time for Casey to score his second. He equalised with only two minutes left, taking his tally to 11 goals for the season.
Smith said: “They were two sloppy goals following a couple of errors but Jordan’s two were quality goals.”
City drew 0-0 at bottom club Holmesdale on Saturday, missing a host of chances.
Smith said: “I have never experienced a game like it.
“We hit the bar twice early on through Ryan Philpott and a 40yard effort by Jordan and could have won it 8-0 in the end but might have lost in the last minute.”
Defender Patrick Nzuzi made his debut at Holmesdale but was unavailable in midweek.
City are at home to Erith & Belvedere on Saturday. They beat them 3-2 at home in the FA Vase last November.
‘Dean is a proven goalscorer at
this level’