LEE SMITH believes Hungerford Town are ready to hunt down his former team-mates at Cirencester Town.

Smith scored what he described as ‘the goal of my life’ when Hungerford made it three wins on the bounce to come away from fellow promotion candidates Redditch United with three points on Tuesday night.

The win took them to seventh, just three points off second-placed Cirencester in the Southern Premier, and sets up one of the games of the season when Brian Hughes takes his side to Bulpit Lane on Saturday.

Smith’s 33 league goals formed the pillar on which Ciren’s championship was won last season and Saturday will be the first time this campaign he has faced his one-time colleagues.

The game is given added spice by the fact that two Hungerford old boys, Josh Parsons and Ian Herring, have recently jumped ship to join the Centurions.

“If we beat Cirencester on Saturday we join them in second place,” insisted Smith, who plays a deeper role for the Berkshire outfit, with striker Mark Draycott grabbing the glory as the league’s top marksman with 15 goals, one ahead of Ciren’s Nat Jarvis.

“I am playing left midfield, not an attacking role like I had at Ciren,” said Smith. “But I must be doing something right as I have started every game.

“I have scored only five goals but I have provided a lot of assists for Drakes.”

Hungerford had a nightmare November when they were dumped out of three cup competitions and posted just one win in the league, but their recent form suggests that blip is a thing of the past. And Smith insists they are a better promotion bet than Ciren.

“Hungerford has a similar set-up to Ciren’s – good manager and a well-run club – but I am glad I made the move.

“We will definitely be thereabouts at the end of the season. We have a much bigger squad than Ciren – with a very strong bench – and I think the club has more ambition.”

Smith bumped into Ciren manager Brian Hughes while Christmas shopping in Cheltenham recently and admits the banter will only intensify this week.

“I’m still good mates with the Ciren boys and Leigh Henry for one is sure to have his say via texts,” said Smith, who can understand why Parsons and Herring have been such an instant hit at the Corinium Stadium.

“Josh is the most technically gifted fella I have every played with and too good just to be on our bench, and it was a shock when ‘Spud’ (Herring) left as he had been a fixture at Hungerford for so long.

“They were also my travelling partners so they left me in the lurch!”

Smith expresses no surprise at how well his former Gloucestershire cohorts have done but both Herring and Parsons admitted that they were taken aback at Cirencester’s success since being promoted – until they joined the camp.

“Ciren came into the league with the confidence of being champions but as an outsider I was surprised at how well they have done,” said Herring.

“I have known how Hughesie operates for some time and have trained with them in the past when I was with Forest Green, but as soon as I met the characters in the changing room I knew why they were doing so well.

“I am loving it here and I can’t speak highly enough about the management, the lads or the club.”

Parsons added: “I did not realise how good Ciren were. I thought they would be more direct, but they love to pass the ball and that suits me to a T.”

Parsons readily admits he is no certainty to start against his old club as he is one of four in-form strikers on the Ciren books.

“Nat, Aidan (Bennett), Ed (Williams) and myself are all playing well at the same time – but there are only three places,” he said.

“It is going to be a great game on Saturday. I don’t think they have been beaten in 90 minutes at home all season, and that would be a good record to end.”

He also shares Smith’s view that the first goal on Saturday is likely to be crucial.

“When we get in front we are very hard to break down, but if we go behind that is not always the case,” admitted Smith.

That is exactly what happened when Ciren got their noses in front on their last visit to the Bulpit two seasons and they held on for a comfortable three points.

The final word goes to Herring, who came close to his first goal of the season during his man-of-the-match display against Histon on Saturday.

“We’re on the crest of a wave and in terms of football I think we are one of the best teams in the league, if not the best,” he said.

“I have great memories from my two and a half seasons at Hungerford but several factors on and off the pitch prompted my move.

“It will be great to get back there and lock horns with them – and then have a drink together afterwards.”