Gavin Geddes is aiming to finish top of the Division One hotshots.

Geddes returned to Worthing this week after a short spell at Eastbourne Borough.

He received a warm welcome back from teammates, then vowed to get the goals which can fire them into the top eight.

Geddes has already hit 16 Ryman League goals this season and is just one behind divisional leader Vinnie John from Bishop's Stortford.

Matt Russell of Bognor is in third place with 13 strikes.

Geddes's return, along with that of Damian Webber, lifted spirits even further at Woodside Road following a run of three wins and the recent appointment of caretaker manager Barry Lloyd.

The former Crawley, Horsham and Burgess Hill goalgetter said: "There are several reasons why I left Eastbourne Borough and travel was the main one.

"I live in Hove and it took me an hour and ten minutes to get to training.

"It was a bit of an embarrassing situation but I spoke to Garry Wilson and Nick Greenwood and they were okay about it."

Geddes also hinted he made his U-turn after realising there was not going to be a mass exodus of players from Worthing following Sammy Donnelly's resignation.

He admitted: "Another reason for me coming back was a certain Mr Lloyd.

"From what I heard there were going to be as many as eight players leaving the club but it didn't happen.

"It's great now. I got a fantastic reaction when I went back to training and I was really pleased.

"Now my ambition is to be the top goalscorer in Division One.

"I think we will be in the top eight and maybe have a cup run. And I hope the manager stays."

There is plenty of Sussex and Albion interest near the top of the Ryman goalscoring lists.

Former Seagulls Robbie Reinelt (Braintree), Craig Maskell (Hampton) and Stafford Browne (Aldershot) are joint second in the Premier with ten.

Horsham youngster Jamie Taylor leads the Division Two rankings with 12.

Geddes could be back in partnership with Ben Carrington for Tuesday's League Cup tie at jinx side Yeading.

Carrington was due to serve a one-match ban at Westfield today while Andy Alexander began a three-game lay-off.

Lloyd will miss the midweek clash because of a business trip to America and it is those outside interests which may yet prevent him from taking the manager's job on a more permanent basis.

Keith Rowley will step in as the caretaker's caretaker as Rebels visit one of the grounds where they have really suffered down the years, including a 4-0 defeat in the league last season.

Horsham boss John Maggs survived the manager of the month jinx, then looked forward to a cracking Christmas.

Maggs was named top boss for Ryman League Division Two ahead of Tuesday's derby with Leatherhead. His side duly celebrated by scoring their seventh successive win, courtesy of a Jamie Taylor hat-trick.

Hornets have been virtually unstoppable since their FA Cup defeat by Folkestone in mid-October. They opened November with a 3-0 win over title-chasing Berkhamsted, put seven past Wivenhoe and also enjoyed a 5-4 win at Arlesey in front of the division's biggest gate to date.

Maggs enjoyed some of the bonuses from Tuesday's win.

He said: "It was a very good game. They went close a couple of times and we had to be at our best but two of Jamie's goals were out of the top drawer.

"Tommy Warrilow got 45 minutes and did very well and I gave Steve Payne 90 minutes, which was just what he needed.

"There are a few sides going well now and it's all boiling up to our game at Lewes on Boxing Day. They are on a good run so it should be an exciting game."