SLIMBRIDGE manager Leon Sterling believes new striker Lee Smith has had a terrific effect on his young squad since signing for the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West outfit.

The 33-year-old front man signed from Evo-Stik Southern League Premier side Cirencester Town a month ago and has already made a big impact on the squad – and his own career goal tally to date.

The Swans have missed a man to hit the back of the net regularly since the departure at the end of last season of striker Paul Fahy.

But Smith, who made three hundred appearances for Gloucester City during his career, seems to have filled that void, hitting his fifth goal in eight games during the 3-1 home league win over Yate Town that gave Slimbridge their first double over another club since gaining promotion to the division.

Sterling said of Smith: “We have been missing someone up front. We had Paul last year and it was something I wanted.

“He is experienced and if he gets a couple of chances, he always takes one and makes good decisions. He is a good lad for all the young guys to learn from.”

Smith has been installed as Slimbridge captain since his arrival and opened the scoring against Yate on Saturday with a sumptuous shot from around 12 yards into the right side of the net.

Sterling added: “This is why he is captain. He leads by example. He scored one against Yate and set one up. He can be that little game-changer that we have needed.”

The Slimbridge manager is also hoping Forest Green Rovers will allow an extension to the loan period of young Wotton-under-Edge midfielder Joe Stokes.

Teenager Stokes is on a one-year deal with Forest Green and has been playing well during his one-month loan to the Swans.

But, with no Slimbridge game on Saturday, Tuesday’s outing at Swindon Supermarine was his last match of the loan.

Sterling said: “This is out of my hands a bit. I think Joe wants to stay, in chatting to him, but that is up to Forest Green. We would welcome him for another month.

“He is enjoying it, he is a local lad and is enjoying his football. If he wants to stay, I would be pleased with that although they might want to move him on to another, higher level. If he is enjoying it, I will be happy to keep him.”

The match against Yate Town on Saturday was marred by two dismissals in the space of a few seconds when the Bluebells frontman Josh Morgan-Williams was deemed to have kicked out at Slimbridge’s Sam Turl while he was laying on the ground on the touchline.

And when referee John Roskelly brandished a straight red, Yate’s Kye Mountfield was also sent off for swearing at the official.

The Swans were 1-0 at the time thanks to Smith’s goal, but Yate equalised before succumbing to two goals inside three minutes in the second-half.

Sterling added: “Winning your home games against sides in and around you is the important thing. We did that on Saturday and we beat Paulton the previous Saturday so that is six points now.

“It was an even game for the first 25 minutes and chances went both ways but the key point was them losing those two players which gave us the momentum.

“Yate kept going but it is always going to be difficult with nine men.”