Ebbsfleet United’s new striker was on the scoresheet in a win over West Ham at the weekend- a day after signing for the club.

Kwame Thomas’ signing was announced on Friday and he scored the second goal against West Ham under-21s a day later in a 2-0 win.

Thomas, 28, has joined from Aldershot Town where he helped them to finish just outside the National League play-off places last season. He was offered a new contract there but has opted for a fresh challenge.

Fleet said of their new man that he is a “physically strong forward with excellent aerial attributes…another new arrival at the club who adds plenty of know-how and experience of the National League and higher.”

Thomas scored Fleet’s second goal on 71 minutes against the young Hammers after fellow striker Dominic Samuel broke the deadlock shortly after the interval. Dominic Poleon went close on a couple of occasions to scoring in the first 45.

The newly-signed 6ft 3in striker played international football for England at youth level but made his senior debut for St Kitts & Nevis in March in an international friendly against San Marino.

Thomas, speaking to Ebbsfleet United FCtv, said: “I know last season Ebbsfleet stayed up on the last day of the season but from season to season the National League changes, as quickly as you’re in a relegation fight you can be in a promotion fight.

“I think we can do really well as a team, take it game by game and as a striker, I just want to score as many goals as possible to help.”

Born in Nottingham, Thomas started at Derby County and made a handful of appearances for them, making his debut in November 2014 as a substitute against Leeds United in a Championship fixture.

He went on loan at Notts County before another three appearances for Derby in the second tier at the end of the 2014/15 season.

A spell on loan at Blackpool the following year was followed by a move to Coventry City where he scored three times in League 1, including a goal against Gillingham in a 2-1 win.

Since then, he’s played for numerous clubs, including two years at Solihull Moors and a couple of seasons at Wrexham.

He was at Sutton United for the 2022/23 season but went out on loan at Dundee playing in the Scottish Championship.

Thomas managed six gals for the Shots last season in the National League and played against Ebbsfleet in their 4-1 win in March.