STRATFORD footballer, Lee Ross, is proving a big hit in the Dr Martens League, writes Mervyn Collins.

The 22-year-old tops the Western Division scoring charts with nine goals and has helped Bloxwich Town establish themselves in their new surroundings.

However, Ross suffered a blow a couple of weeks ago when he sustained a nasty arm injury but he is set to return to action this weekend.

The former Midland Alliance members joined forces with Blakenall during the summer and, after a sticky start, have made great strides up the table.

"We struggled a bit in the early matches but then got back on track and I managed to knock in a few goals," said Ross.

There is now talk of a contract on the table and possible interest from Football League clubs.

"Bloxwich have brought in a coach for one to one sessions and it's certainly improved my game," said the former Stratford Town youngster.

Ross played for the youth team at Masons Road, progressing to the Reserves at 18 but he failed to break into the senior side.

Alveston and Wellesbourne were other ports of call on Ross's teenage travels before arriving at Rugby United last season.

He moved on to Rugby Town after injury curtailed his Dr Martens League involvement and scored 27 goals in 14 Midland Combination games.

Ross moved on to Ford Sports at Daventry in the United Counties League, where the goals kept coming and a close season call from Bob Green at Bloxwich arrived.

"I heard they were looking for a striker and a contact on the non-league scene put me in touch with Bob," Ross, a sales engineer in Bidford, recalled.

Ross confirmed that he has signed a contract until the end of the season, a move that will make him unavailable for his Sunday side.

After scoring goals with great regularity last season for Salford Rovers, the striker has started the new Evesham Sunday League season in similar vein with Honeybourne.

"My game is improving all the time and my ambition is to get into the Conference, " Ross admitted.

If he keeps finding the net then he could well leapfrog that section of soccer's Pyramid and shoot straight into the Nationwide League.