Forest Green Rovers v Harrogate Town: Rivals should 'fear us', says Will Smith

The Wetherby Road outfit travel to title-chasing Forest Green Rovers this weekend having won seven of their last 10 matches, keeping five clean-sheets in the process.

Their much-improved run of form since the end of January has seen them climb to within six points of a play-off spot, and 22-year-old centre-half Smith feels he and his team-mates could go on and finish in the top seven IF they keep learning and evolving the way they have been doing.

“If you go back a month-and-a-half we were looking over our shoulders and worrying about who could overtake us, but now we’re just looking up the table,” Smith told the Harrogate Advertiser.

“It’s a case of just trying to keep doing what we’ve been doing, trying to keep this good run going and seeing who we can catch.

“I think that some of the sides above us in the table should fear us because we’re a good team and I feel like we are getting better.

"If we keep winning as regularly as we have been doing then we could end up in a play-off position. We just have to keep pushing on.”

Town's upturn in fortunes coincided with Smith's return from almost three months out with a hamstring injury and he has undoubtedly helped shore things up at the back.

Those five recent clean-sheets have come in the space of just seven matches, though on Tuesday night the former Barnsley defender showcased his ability at the other end of the field.

Having been afforded a clear run on the away goal following some shocking defending by Colchester United's back-line, Smith delivered a passable impression of a seasoned centre-forward, calmly dribbling the ball towards the six-yard box before sliding it past Shamal George with minimal fuss.

He looked very much like a player who scores one-on-ones every week.

"I didn't have much time to think about what I was doing when I latched onto that ball in behind, and to be honest that probably made it easier," Smith added.

"Those couple of touches I took just helped me make sure I had the ball under control given the condition of the pitch at the moment.

"I was surprised that their goalkeeper didn't come off his line quicker, I'm not sure what he was doing, but it definitely made it easier for me, so I just picked my spot.

"It was a nice feeling when the ball hit the back of the net. It's been a long time since I scored one and it's always good to contribute."