Hereford United midfielder Ben Smith loves scoring goals but admits he gets even more satisfaction out of creating them for his team-mates.

The Bulls ace, no stranger to finding the net after six goals this season, is likely to find his creativity tested to the limits in the coming months as Conference sides pack their lines to thwart Hereford's goal threat.

Smith, in action against Gravesend & Nor-thfleet at Edgar Street today, will no doubt relish the challenge as he contemplates a bright start to the season.

"I've got six goals so far and before the start of the season I had a target of 10 or 12 goals but now I would hope to get well into double figures," he said. "As a kid I was always an attacking midfielder and I like to get forward and score but I probably get more satisfaction from setting them up."

Smith is reaping the benefits of a full pre-season and believes it has made a significant difference to his game. "In the last two years I have missed about 18 months in total through injury," he said.

"This year was the first pre-season that I have managed to finish and it makes such a difference. People don't realise how much difference that makes. Last year I missed pre-season but went to Lilleshall and did fitness work from 9am-5pm and worked incredibly hard but when I came back I was still not as fit as if I'd done pre-season. It's really hard to replicate a match situation and you can't catch up. Even though I managed 25 games last year I still knew I hadn't done as well as I could because of my fitness."

"It's especially important for me because I'm not naturally fit," he added. "Players like Rob Purdie and Danny Williams might not do anything for two weeks but still be pretty fit but I tend to put on a little bit of weight quite easily and if I haven't got that sharpness I can't play to my best."