Stratton United have been banging in the goals for fun this season, goals that have taken them to the top of Division Four of the Stroud League.

They have scored 53 in their opening 10 games, earning them eight wins and two draws.

Striker Jay Griffiths has been leading the charge with 23, and team-mate and club secretary Dan Timbrell believes there will be many more to come from him this season.

“He was with us last season but played mainly for the reserves,” said Timbrell.

“He’s a quality striker. He’s not big but he uses his body well and he’s rapid. He could definitely play at a higher level.”

Stratton finished second from bottom in Division Four last season so there has been a big upturn in their fortunes.

The restructuring of the league meant they avoided relegation and club captain Angus Brereton and his men are certainly making the most of that reprieve.

“We’ve got a new manager this season, Luke Palmer, and everything has just fallen into place,” said 32-year-old Timbrell, a utility player who is in his 10th season with the club.

“We’ve had a couple of new players come in and they’ve done really well.”

The new faces include central midfielders Callum Giles and Russell Beacham, and goalkeeper Andy Ealey.

Timbrell, who says his favoured position is left wing, is moving towards the end of his career but he remains ambitious for the club.

“I’d like to see us push into the second division, that would be nice,” he said. “Then we can see what happens after that.”

Stratton, who play their home games at Kingshill Sports Complex in Cirencester, are in their fourth season in the Stroud League after playing in the Cirencester League for many years.

And Timbrell is a big fan of the Stroud League.

“It’s a really well organised league,” he said. “Everything runs really smoothly, that makes a big difference.”

Stratton have got a reserves team who are currently flying high in Division Six, a team that Kurt Andrews looks after on match days and one that is captained by Jai Gill.

“This is their second season, we’re really happy to have a reserves team,” said Timbrell.

“We’re in a really good catchment area. We’ve got more than 50 players signed on and it’s sometimes difficult to give everyone a game. Maybe one day we’ll field a 3^rd team as well.”

Timbrell, who had never played football when he was encouraged to join the club a decade ago by his friend Clive Brown, has certainly played his part in the club’s recent success.

“We try to play decent football and at this level it generally works,” he said. “There’s a really good buzz at the club.”