STEVE Tate thought he'd seen the quickest thing on two legs when he played alongside Andy Forbes at Winchester City last season.

But having tried to keep pace with the scampering feet of Bashley's Richard Gillespie, he has changed his mind.

"I challenged Gilly to 100 metres race before kick-off last week and he just beat me!" chuckled the 35-year-old, who has come out of retirement to help Bash out of a hole while Danny Gibbons is suspended.

While Tate lasted only 45 minutes against Burgess Hill last Saturday before a groin strain got the better of him, 19-year-old Gillespie's pace caused problems all afternoon.

Tate, is not surprised to see the Romsey teenager sitting near the top of the Ryman scoring charts with 18 league and cup goals.

The former Waterlooville, Weymouth and Newport hitman enthused: "He's got everything and if he keeps on learning, he's going to be a hell of a player.

"There are still things he can improve on. For example, he'd have had a blatant penalty last week had he fallen over, but he tried to hurdle the fella who'd fouled him. But if he stays injury free, there's nothing stopping him.

"Looking at his physique, he's not skinny and he knows how to look after himself.

"I was lucky enough to play with Andy Forbes last season and he was quick, but Gillespie's even faster. He's a quality finisher too. His goal against Horsham was as good as I've seen.

"Now I know why a certain Mr Malone (Winchester City's director of football) was after him!"

Although Tate is resolved to going back into retirement after tomorrow's trip to Cray Wanderers, he admits the football habit is hard to break.

He said: "Geoff Butler (Bashley manager) phoned me before Danny was suspended and when I said 'no' to him, I meant it. But I always read The Echo and I knew Geoff was struggling for players.

"Something inside me said I could still do a job, but in reality it's extremely hard because I hadn't kicked a ball since the FA Vase final with Winchester.

"I've come to Bashley for three games purely to help Geoff out, we go back a long way. I first played for him 17 years ago when I was an apprentice at Bournemouth and he took me and Denny Mundee on loan to Salisbury."

Tate is an injury doubt tomorrow, while Gibbons serves the third of his three-match ban. Dave Wakefield has consulted a chiropractor about his back trouble.