New year, new beginning for Uley Football Club who recorded their first league victory of the season on Saturday.

And some victory it was too, because they won 4-3 at Stratton United, who are flying high in Division Two of the Stroud League.

Right-wing Keiron Birch was Uley's hero, scoring all four goals as the club doubled their points tally for the season.

They’d managed just three draws from their opening 15 games and joint manager Steve King told The Local Answer: “It was a helluva result, Stratton had already beaten us 8-0 and 7-1 in the league and cup this season, we played exceptionally well.”

They certainly did and King said of star turn Birch: “He’s quick and dynamic and he’s got an eye for goal.

“He’s been our leading scorer for the past couple of seasons, he rejoined us in December after a spell at Berkeley Town.”

So which was his best goal?

“His hat-trick goal,” said King. “It came at the end of a really good team move. We manoeuvred the ball around the pitch before he slotted it past the keeper from 10 yards.”

Stratton, who are fourth in the 13-strong division, would have gone top if they’d won on Saturday, while Uley remain in the bottom two, but King and joint manager Lee Hill are hoping for better things in 2025.

“There was a lot of turmoil at the club last year, but we’re back on the up,” said 49-year-old King, a centre-half who has been playing for the club for 33 years.

“We want to win as many games as possible. In the short-term we want to stay in Division Two, which we know won’t be easy, but in the long-term we want to get back into Division One.

“We think we’ve turned a corner, we’re undefeated in 2025!”

Uley host Kingswood in a Stroud League cup game on Saturday.