MARK Shepherd is relishing the "fresh challenge" awaiting him at Worcester City.

The 23-year-old striker has made a big impression with City fans since his arrival from Moor Green in February.

And having played a major role in putting City within reach of the Dr Martens Cup, he hopes to help them to even greater glory next season.

Shepherd, who lives in Worcester, jumped at the chance to join City even though he was Moor Green's leading league scorer at the time of his move.

"I felt I just needed to move on to a fresh challenge," he said. "You always want to play for your local side and Worcester is a big club.

"I've settled in very well and I feel very comfortable with the lads - they've made me feel very welcome."

Shepherd is confident City can go on and finish third in the Dr Martens League Premier Division, and then mount a serious title challenge next season. "We certainly can if we keep playing like we did against Newport in the semi-final.

"Everyone is bubbling in the dressing room and is very positive for next season."

The former Hanley Castle High School pupil started out at Kidderminster Harriers as a youngster, but only played a handful of first-team games before moving on to Moor Green.

He was a prolific scorer over the last two seasons and helped them to promotion from the Western Division last year.

But he now wants to prove he can score regularly at Premier Division level - he has still to score a league goal although he netted twice in the Dr Martens semi-final win over Newport and in Thursday's 4-0 win in the first leg of the final against Crawley - and forge a good relationship up front with the prolific Mark Owen.

Early signs indicate that he may be the partner City have been seeking for a long time to complement Owen and increase City's goal ratio - a factor that has arguably prevented them making more of a title challenge this season.

"My record was pretty reasonable at Moor Green but that was a league below this one most of the time I was there - I still have to do it at the higher level."