WINCHESTER City are pinning their hopes on vibrant, young striker Oli Bailey to deliver goals this season.

The 20-year-old, who hails from the cathedral city, has joined his local club from Gosport Borough.

Bailey is one of two highly-regarded youngsters to have signed a contract for Winchester along with central defender Josh Harfield from Fleet Town.

A product of the Saints academy, Bailey played for Romsey Town and joined City’s Southern One South & West rivals Swindon Supermarine two summers ago.

He was recommended to Swindon by ex-Southampton coach and Leeds United boss Dave Hockaday, who had previously been football consultant of the Wiltshire outfit.

Since leaving Supermarine, the pacy forward - an Exeter University student - has played his football in Hampshire.

His electric form for Petersfield Town, scoring 13 times in 17 games, earned him a step into the National League South with Gosport and he has also played for Farnborough on loan.

“We tried to sign Oli two years ago” said Winchester’s director of football Dave Malone. “He will bring pace, enthusiasm and, hopefully, goals to the Denplan.”

At 6ft 3in tall, 21-year-old Harfield is a strapping lad with what manager Craig Davis believes is an equally big future.

“If he isn’t a pro in the next year I’ll be gobsmacked,” he said.

Around three seasons ago Harfield was a City reserve team player. Since then he has played for Whitchurch and, latterly, Fleet Town, where Davis was previously manager.

Also comfortable playing left-back, he has already attracted interest from clubs in higher leagues.

One of four former Fleet players to have followed Davis to Winchester, Harfield is joined at the Denplan by wideman Rob Carr, striker/midfielder Ben “Chalky” White and goalkeeper Ryan Pryce.

Carr, 24, has previously been on Woking’s books and is another who lives in Winchester, while 23-year-old White – an ex-Eastleigh youngster – has scored more than 20 goals for each of the past three seasons.

The experienced Pryce includes AFC Bournemouth, Salisbury City and Gosport  among his former clubs.