IT'S a big word is 'if'. But should Whitecroft's reserve team win all their remaining games this season they will step up a league to Division 1.

Long-time manager Bryn James knows it's a big ask. But his never-say-die team of experienced and young players is, he says, capable, of pulling it off.

"Apart from our 10 goal spree against Westbury, all our games have been competitive and tough. There's not a lot to separate the sides," he says.

Having been around the Forest football scene for more years than he cares to remember, James manages Whitecroft's Reserve team jointly with Richard Kear. Now both their sons play in the team.

"We have a good side led by the experienced Dean Lancaster. There's a mix of experience and youth and some of the young players are doing really well," he said.

Fittingly enough it is Bradley Kear, 16 – son of Richard – who is the joint top scorer with the midfield veteran Dean Lancaster," says Bryn.

His own son Scott has returned to the village side from neighbouring Lydney Town and having scored five times in just three appearances he is already hot on the heels of Kear and Lancaster.

He is also full of praise for Dale Alexander, the young goalkeeper who has been key to keeping Whitecroft in the title chase.

"Dale has been exceptional. Traditionally, the club has always struggled for goalkeepers. For a rare change now we have three very good ones," he said.

In his 14 year stint as a manager Bryn has only once been involved in a team which was demoted.

"If it was to happen we would certainly take promotion. I think it would be good for the club to have the reserve team playing just one league below them," he said.

Saturday's game was closer than the score suggests. It was, says Bryn, competitive and keenly contested, but played in good spirits. "You don't get too much of that these days," reflected Bryn.

Whitecroft's goals were scored by Dean Lancaster, Scott James and Mark Jones.