NOBODY was more gobsmacked at Adam Stansfield scooping the Nationwide Conference player of the month award than the man himself.

The Hereford United striker polled 68 per cent of the vote for the September gong following his goal against Halifax Town and two late strikes at Leigh RMI as a substitute.

Stansfield, 26, could not believe it when he came out on top ahead of Barnet marksman Giuliano Grazioli and Aldershot's Aaron McLean.

He said: "I was surprised even to be shortlisted, let alone winning the award. I did not play that many games in the month.

"I scored three goals and probably won the award because of the two I got at Leigh after coming off the bench. They were important goals because at the time we were struggling for a result."

Stansfield was snapped up in pre-season following three years at Yeovil Town and is currently the club's leading scorer with six league goals to his name.

However, he has failed to nail down a regular place in the Bulls' starting line-up and was relegated to the bench in the back-to-back defeats at Dagenham & Redbridge and Accrington Stanley.

Graham Turner has opted for the Lee Mills-David Brown partnership in the last two games and may stick with the same pairing today against Woking. But Stansfield, who is enjoying his new life at Edgar Street, fully accepts that he may be in and out of the side as the manager shuffles his striking pack. He added: "It's always frustrating to be on the bench, but it's a team game and the manager has to pick the two strikers that he thinks will do the job.

"I have to respect that and make sure that I do as well as I can when I get the chance. David Brown and Lee Mills have got so much experience, that it's always going to be difficult to work your way in.

"I always look to score 20 to 25 goals a season and there is still a chance I can get that many this season."