BRANTHAM Athletic midfielder Jack Smith says he joined the club to win the league – and insists nothing has happened to make him change that ambition.

The 24-year-old was at Bostik League side Heybridge Swifts last season but keen to sign for the Imps after arriving on loan in February.

He initially joined to get some game-time after an injury-plagued campaign but wanted to sign permanently after positive chats with joint-bosses Matt Carmichael and Michael Brothers.

So far, the potential he spotted in pre-season is being reflected in results, with Brantham fourth in the Thurlow Nunn League premier division after Saturday’s 4-1 romp against Haverhill Rovers and Tuesday’s 2-0 success at Hadleigh United.

“I said when I joined that I wanted to win the league with this team,” Smith told the Standard.

“I saw the potential and was impressed with the signings they were making.

“I knew the squad was going to be full of quality and wanted to be part of it.

“That was a massive part of me wanting to stay and that’s why I was prepared to drop a level.

“I’ve played at a higher level and believe this team is good enough to play in the league above.

“We might need one or two additions in the summer to make us a bit stronger but I fully believe we can push on.

“That’s the goal – to win the league and get promoted – and nothing has happened so far to make me change that ambition.

“We’ve only lost two in the league and have games in hand on sides around us in the table.

“We’ll definitely be pushing near the top of the table.”

Smith was the two-goal hero of Saturday’s win, following well-taken goals from Sean Bartlett and Sam Newson.

Newson then netted twice in the midweek success at nearby Hadleigh.

“We started well and got our goal, but then took our foot off the gas and let them back in the game,” said Smith, reflecting on Saturday’s win.

“It resulted in us conceding a poor goal from a corner, just before half-time.

“We changed things round a bit and I started playing a bit higher up the pitch and it paid dividends.

“I managed to get two goals and we won the game comfortably.

“It was a fair result in the end.”

Brantham’s next premier division assignment is tomorrow’s trip to Walsham-le-Willows.

And they will be hoping to make it four straight victories, with this week’s successes coming hot on the heels of a last-gasp win at Wivenhoe Town.

“It’s been a good start and apart from a couple of exceptions, when we let ourselves down, we’ve done very well,” said former Stanway Rovers man Smith.

“We’ll be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

“We’ve got a strong squad, with players still to come back from injury, and look particularly good going forward.

“There’s competition for places all over the park and you can see that when you look at our bench at the moment.

“There’s great togetherness among the group and even when results haven’t gone our way, we’ve always stuck together. We’re always talking about what we’ve done well, what we did wrong and where we can improve.”