Lordswood manager Matt Barman has put his faith in striker James Jeffrey this season and believes that’s what’s bringing out the best in him.

Jeffrey was on target in their 4-1 FA Vase win over Croydon last Saturday, just days after his hat-trick - the second of the season - helped The Wood to a 5-0 league win over Sutton Athletic.

The striker is already in double figures, with 12 for the season.

“He has always been a player I have admired,” Barman said, having signed the front-man in the summer following his departure from Whitstable.

“I know he has been at Hythe, Sheppey and a few others, where he has been a 14, 15 or 16 but I told him I want him as a no.9, it is a case of him being a forward and feeling like he has my backing and we are getting the rewards from that.

“He has probably been at a few clubs where he feels it doesn’t matter what he does when he comes on, he would probably be sitting on the bench the following week, but he has got 12 goals now in 11 games.

“He has been an absolute cracking addition, he is a local lad, he buys into what we are doing and I am in contact with him at least every other day. I think he is loving it and we are getting the rewards from it.

“I wouldn’t say he’s scoring ugly goals but if you look at someone like Haaland, who I am not comparing him to him before we get carried away! But he will score in and around the six-yard box and if you rely on worldies each week they will dry up.

“JJ is putting himself in those dangerous positions and he is ready for when we get the ball, he understands that if he makes those runs he will get opportunities.

“I am delighted for him although he is running us out of matchballs!

“He got himself another hat-trick against Sutton and he came on at the weekend at 2-1 and got what was probably the match-defining goal, the third. The fourth was icing on the cake at the end.

“We are over the moon but there is a lot to be said for Callum Peck’s input, along with Josh Reid, Artem Kuchkov, Quadri Green and others who are giving him those opportunities to score.

“Callum has been with us for a few weeks, formerly with Chatham and coming via Erith & Belvedere. He has been absolutely outstanding.

“He is at an age where he needs to be starting every week, he has the ability to start every week, he has embraced the club, he is pushing and driving the boys on from behind the scenes and the lads are listening at the moment.

“We can’t get complacent but if they keep listening and learning then hopefully we can have a really good season.”

Barman made four changes to his starting XI for the Vase game, following their 5-0 league win over Sutton, and insists it’s important to utilise his squad.

He said: “We need to be able to rely on the squad, we can’t play the same eleven players every week, we need to keep the boys happy and when we need to call on them they can’t be rusty from having no football.

“We have to be balanced across the season, you can’t go with the same players all season, their form will go, there will be injuries, suspensions, you need to keep the squad ready so when those things happen, we have ready-made players to come in, not someone who is rusty and hasn’t played in a month.

“The Sutton game was fairly even but every time we made a substitution we got stronger, the boys deserve their opportunities and chances, it wasn’t a case of resting for the sake of resting, some boys have been banging on the door and deserve an opportunity.”

Lordswood have conceded the least amount of goals in the SCEFL Premier Division so far this season.

Barman said: “I have two 17-year-old centre-backs and decided to sure it up a little bit by bringing in an 18-year-old! That is where we are at, we are looking to identify these boys that can play higher levels and have their minutes now. We will give them an opportunity as long as they come in and work hard.

“The result (on Saturday) flattered us, it was a tighter game than that, we got a couple of late goals but it’s job done when it comes to cups isn’t it? It is all about the result.”

Lordswood have been drawn away to Southern Combination Division 1 side Roffey in the FA Vase first round proper.

Next up this Saturday is an away game against VCD Athletic in the league.

Barman said: “It’s a good test for us as they have just come down from step four, they have been in and out with their form, but they will be at home, up for the game and they will be scrapping for everything.

“But we will look forward to the challenge and as long as we leave everything out there, that is enough, and hopefully that is enough to get three points at the weekend.”