Bentley keen to replicate golden boot form with Borough

Bentley’s impressive 57 goals in all competitions, which included 44 in 42 Evo-Stik League Southern division one south & west games, saw him claim the Morrant Golden Boot award at The Non-League Paper’s National Game Awards in association with SCL.

The hot-shot striker picked up the award at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, before later confirming he would be moving to National League South side Borough.

Bentley, who played alongside Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and Adam Lallana in Southampton’s academy, said: ‘I’m looking to make the step up now and show that I can do it a couple of leagues higher.

‘Hopefully, I can carry on that form and confidence into next season and score a few goals.’

Bentley’s 56 goals during the 2014-15 season helped Winchester out of the Wessex League premier division, and he continued where he left off this term with five goals in the first half of the opening game and then another four in the second.

In the end Winchester missed out on promotion following their play-off semi-final defeat to eventual winners Banbury United, but for Bentley the season ended on a high with his special night at Stamford Bridge.

Bentley said: ‘It is unbelievable to be there and it is great I could share it with my dad – it was an absolute honour.

‘I was not even aware this award existed until a couple of weeks ago so I am absolutely thrilled and honoured to win the award.

‘It was one more goal than last year and the competition was a lot tougher this year but as a team and an individual we are able to step up to this level.

‘I haven’t changed the way I play in the last couple of years but going up a level you get a bit more time and space and the opponents give you a bit more respect, which has helped me out this season and I was able to get more room in and around the penalty box and my finishing has been decent in the last couple of seasons.’

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