The Poppies frontman responded to the addition of a new striker on transfer deadline day by smashing home the winner as Kettering
maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 1-0 win over title favourites Stevenage Borough on Tuesday.

But Beardsley has revealed he has been close friends with Christie – who has joined on loan from Stevenage with a view to a permanent move – for a number of years and believes he will be a hit with the Poppies faithful.

"Iyseden is a good player. I made my debut with him when I was 18 and I played with him at Kidderminster," Beardsley said.

"He has looked after me in the past and we have a good relationship.

"He is something a bit different. We have got the runners in myself and Gareth Seddon, we have the party piece in Jean-Paul Marna and now we have got some brute strength.

"I definitely think it is a positive move to bring him here."

Beardsley, meanwhile, was delighted to fire home the winner on Tuesday as the Poppies claimed their third win and clean sheet in a row.

However, he insists no-one is getting ahead of themselves within the Kettering camp with the sole focus now being on Saturday's trip to Oxford United.

The striker said: "I was happy to get a clear-cut chance because we have had a few scrappy games where things haven't quite dropped for me.

So I was delighted when the opening came and even happier to see it go in.

"As everyone knows the gaffer keeps our feet firmly on the ground and I think we have got enough experience in the dressing-room and suffered enough ups and downs in our careers to know we must take each game as it comes.

"We are never talking about two or three games ahead.

"It's all about us and if you don't work hard or commit yourself in each match it really doesn't matter who you are playing against.

"In all seven matches so far the commitment has been there and I am sure that will continue."