With a backlog of fixtures still to fulfil the management have made a move to bolster their options with the capture of the midfielder from neighbours Bognor on an initial short-term agreement.

Mendoza was part of a successful youth setup at Nyewood Lane before heading to America to take a football scholarship at the University of Rio Grande.

Originally based in Chichester he returned to the UK last summer and joined Isthmian Premier Division Worthing for whom he scored at Oaklands Park in the pre-season meeting between the two sides.

He found opportunities hard to come by at Woodside Road however and eventually made the switch to their arch-rivals in November making 12 appearances in Rocks colours.

Assistant manager Graham Gee is pleased to have got the deal done, “We’re aware the amount of games we have left to play in a short space of time is likely to have an effect so we wanted to strengthen but they needed to be the right fit for this club”. “Ben falls into that category because he’s young, talented and hungry, plus he’s another local lad”.

Mendoza is available to go straight into the squad for tomorrow’s trip to league leaders Ashford United.