FORMER Weymouth striker Brandon Goodship identified the “change in intensity” at new club Southend United as one of the more challenging aspects of his move from the Terras.

Goodship, 24, left Weymouth in June having notched successive golden boots in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier South, hitting 37 goals last season.

Owing to a holiday in Italy, Goodship was, after a wait of over two months, awarded with his latest golden boot before Friday’s 2-2 draw between his old and new clubs.

Speaking to Echosport, Goodship feels he has settled in well despite the more demanding level of play at the Sky Bet League One outfit.

He said: “It’s good, personally it’s really challenging making that step up. You notice it straight away in training the change in intensity and speed of things.

“I’m adapting to that but I feel I’m settling in well and it’s a good group of lads, so I’m looking forward to the challenge.

“There’s no better feeling than playing for three points on a Saturday and I’m looking forward to getting that competitive nature back.”

Quizzed over the reception he had received from his former home support, Goodship said there had been no hard feelings.

“It was a weird one going in the away changing rooms,” the ex-Yeovil man admitted. “It was a strange one, but that’s football – it happens all the time and you’ve got to get on with the job in hand.

“Everyone understands that sometimes you’ve got to make the move and that’s no different (at Weymouth).”

Weymouth opened the scoring against Southend through a delicious Abdulai Baggie flick before Stephen Humphrys and Isaac Hutchinson netted as Southend led 2-1 at half-time.

Terras’ skipper Jake McCarthy then prodded home with 15 minutes remaining for an impressive Weymouth side.

However, Southend substitute Goodship missed a big chance to secure the victory when Mark Childs produced a magnificent point-blank save to deny the new Shrimpers’ man.

Asked for an assessment of his 32-minute appearance, Goodship said: “It was OK, obviously Childsy made a good save and I’m disappointed not to score.

“It’s one of those things. Nine times out of 10 it goes straight under his arm and in but it’s a good few minutes in the tank and obviously a bit of rustiness.

“We need to start getting that out of ourselves now ready to start the first league game.”