Marksmen moves to Meres

Grantham Town's joint managers Gary Sucharewycz and Ian Robinson swooped to sign hot-shot Massiah McDonald over the weekend following his release from Evo-Stik Northern Premier League rivals Matlock Town.

McDonald, pictured, scored for the Gladiators against the Gingerbreads last season, one of eighteen goals he netted to become the Premier Division club's top marksman.

Sucharewycz said: "We felt we needed to get more goals into the forward line. Massiah certainly fits that mould. Every time he has played against me as a manager, he has got on the score sheet."

McDonald hit the headlines with winning strikes during the Gladiators’ FA Trophy run last season against Stalybridge Celtic and Mansfield Town.

His form attracted interest from elsewhere but Sucharewycz says they sold him on joining them the Meres.

"He has had a couple of sniffs from other clubs in the league and at higher level," said the joint manager. "But he saw what we are about as a team from last season. He knows a couple of the lads and thinks he can fit in well with what we have at Grantham and what we want to do."

Sucharewycz hopes the stability Grantham can offer the forward will pay off for both parties.

He added: "He is a young lad, and has ambitions to play at a higher level. He wants to settle at a club and prove himself again at this level and can see himself doing well with the players we already have lined up for next season. This signing, along with Gregg Smith, Jamie McGhee and Karl Demidh gives us great options for goal scoring next season."