Braintree Town have bolstered their attacking options by signing former FA Cup hero Roy Essandoh and ex-QPR star Kevin Gallen.

Essandoh, 35, has just become a free agent after leaving St Neots Town.

Belfast-born Essandoh is well-known for his FA Cup exploits in 2001.

He shot to prominence after his agent responded to an appeal on Ceefax, by Wycombe Wanderers manager Lawrie Sanchez.

Sanchez was on the look-out for a new striker and decided to take a punt on Essandoh, who had previously played for Motherwell, East Fife and in Finland.

He then came on as a substitute and scored a last-minute winner in an FA Cup quarter-final against Leicester.

However, Essandoh was released at the end of his first season in English football and has since spent time at Barnet, Cambridge City, Grays Athletic, Bishop’s Stortford, Billericay Town, Gravesend and Northfleet and Kettering Town.

Now he has arrived at Braintree and Stringer told the Gazette: “We’re very happy to have signed Roy.

“He might not be the quickest now but he’s still strong and fit.

“He’s got plenty of experience and he’ll give us a presence.

“It’s also important to have more back-up in terms of our strikers because, as everyone knows, we’re a bit light in that department.”

Stringer had been keen to add to his attacking options before the transfer window closed today.

“I had one or two things in the pipeline but nothing else came off,” he said.

“One of them was Stefan Payne, who was recently on loan with us from Gillingham.

“However, they weren’t prepared to let him go out again.

“It’s a shame but we’re very happy with Roy.

“He’s an extra body and we’ll go into the last few games with the squad we’ve got now. Hopefully it’ll be good enough.”

Stringer has also completed the signing of the vastly experienced Gallen, who has also played for the likes of Huddersfield Town and Barnsley.

Gallen has recently been playing non-league football for Luton Town, in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

Braintree only have a one-point lead at the top of the Blue Square Bet South table, heading into Saturday’s home match with Dorchester.

Farnborough, who entertain Bromley, turned up the heat by winning 4-2 at Boreham Wood on Tuesday.