Simon Thomas hopes his goals can help fire his new club Royston Town to Southern League Division One Central promotion this season.

The former St Albans City striker netted on his first start for the Crows on Tuesday night, a 4-1 win at Ware, having joined a fortnight ago.

Although only lasting an hour having not started a game in four months, the gangly forward, who began his career at Crystal Palace, combined well with his team-mates and believes he can chip in at the business end of the campaign.

Thomas told the Crow: “At the start of the season, the manager at St Albans City wanted me to go on dual registration but I’m 31 so I’m getting old and I just said ‘I’d just like to go and play games somewhere else.

“I ended up at Tunbridge Wells [Southern Counties East League side] but things didn’t quite work out and Steve Castle [Royston Town manager] has been in contact with me for most of the season and it’s a chance to come and play.

“The lads are brilliant down here and doing well and hopefully I can add an extra bit and help push them over the line.

“It’s a deal until the end of the season but you’ve got to look past that. If I do a job and score plenty of goals to fire Royston to promotion then hopefully the chairman and the manager will want me to stay next season so that’s part of the package.”

Thomas says Castle, a former St Albans City boss, made the move an “easy decision” having relayed his aspirations of promotion to the previously unattached front man.

He continued: “Steve said to me he wants to take Royston up. They lost out in the play-offs last season but he’s got a good base here and he’s got some experienced players.

“I know a couple of the lads from my time at Chesham United so I was more than up for coming to play for the club, getting some game time but also trying to help Royston to the next level.”

On the handsome triumph at Ware, Thomas added: “The boys did really well.

“Everyone put a great shift in made harder by the conditions but we did exactly what the gaffer wanted us to do and it’s a terrific three points.”