BRISTOL Rovers and Salisbury City are in a two-way fight to land Shortwood United hot-shot Duncan Culley.

The 25-year-old front man hit the headlines in the Southern League South and West Division last season, bagging an impressive haul of 39 goals in league and cup competitions.

He spent a three-week trial at Cheltenham Town last month and has also played two trial games for Oxford United, scoring twice.

The Cardiff-based striker scored five for Salisbury on Saturday and four for his parent club Shortwood as a second half substitute at Brimscombe last month- taking his tally to 11 pre-season goals in less than 280 minutes of football.

The SNJ understands Salisbury boss Steve Claridge is keen to offer him a long-term deal deal but the much-admired striker held talks with Rovers on Friday and is training with Darrell Clarke’s side this week.

He spent time on trial in America last January on trial with a number of MLS clubs and was being courted by Hereford United.

He caught the eye on a national stage during Shortwood's epic FA Cup run and played his part the Nailsworth club's journey to the first round proper in their live televised clash with Port Vale at Meadowbank- having scored in the surprise win against Conference Premier side Aldershot Town in the previous round.

He came close to a trial at Forest Green during the brief caretaker tenure of Academy boss Scott Bartlett last season, but due to Shortwood's FA Cup run a mid-season trial failed to materialise.

Culley joined Shortwood last summer having previously played for minnows Pontypridd Town in the Welsh non-league pyramid.