WITH the season approaching its halfway mark and 24 goals already in the bag, Bashley fans are beginning to wonder how much longer the club can keep hold of razor-sharp Romsey lad Richard Gillespie.

The fleet-footed frontman, who turned 20 last month, recently signed an extension to his contract at the Recreation Ground.

But in their heart of hearts, Bashley's small band of supporters sense it can only be a matter time before Gillespie, pictured, gets his chance at a higher level.

As one admirer wrote on the club website: "His pace is absolutely phenomenal and he is a proven goalscorer. I watched him against AFC Wimbledon and he was making their defenders look like something that had fallen out of the pub on a Sunday morning."

Bashley boss Geoff Butler is aware of Gillespie's potential, but smiled: "He's doing well because he's being managed properly! I've seen a vast improvement in him already this season. He's working hard closing people down, knocking big fellas over and he's getting mentally and physically stronger all the time.

"His pace is electric, he scores goals with his right foot, left foot and head and I've never known a player to get into as many good positions as he does. Could you possibly ask for more from a striker?

Well, according to Butler, you could.

Whether due to youth or inexperience, the Bashley manager believes Gillespie needs to brush up on the finer arts of the game. He said: "Richard's got to learn to be a bit crafty. I don't think the lad's got a malicious bone in his body, but he can be too honest. He invites people to tackle him, the defender dangles a leg out and instead of falling over and getting a penalty, Gilly hurdles it.

He'd probably look on it as cheating to fall over, but it's not, it's being professional. If a defender's stupid enough to dangle a leg out, you've got to use it to your advantage, but Richard always wants to stay on his feet. He needs to be clever as well as good if he wants to progress."

Having already scored three times this week, Gillespie will be gunning for more at Corinthian Casuals tomorrow.

Butler said: "His target now must be 40 goals or else he won't have done as well in the second half of the season as he did in the first."