MIDFIELD dynamo Ben Kirk's season is getting better and better after he scored with a header that gave Chippenham the three points on Saturday.

The 20-year-old struggled to break into the first team until December after his transfer from Screwfix Premier side Bridgwater in the summer.

But now he has now managed to hold his place and keep experienced players Gary Horgan and Ellis Wilmot on the bench.

He said: "This is the highest standard I have played at so I did not expect to come straight into the first team.

"I am improving with every game and have worked hard to get my place in the team."

Before he played regularly in the first team, Kirk was on the verge of a loan deal that would have seen him continue his season at Southern League West One team Mangotsfield.

The move fell through and two weeks later Kirk was in the starting line-up for the Bluebirds.

He gives the credit for his rich vein of form to his Chippenham teammates.

"The rest of the team have helped me develop. Training with better players every week helps you improve, I am doing hell of a lot better than I expected."

Kirk, who is studying BA Sports development at Bath University, was delighted to have scored his second goal for Chippenham.

"I am more of an attacking midfielder and love to get up front and try to score.

"As it was the winner and could prove to be vital I think it is the most important goal I have ever scored."

The midfielder is surprised at how well football is treating him at the moment after he suffered heartbreak at 14.

Kirk got through to the final round of the Bristol Rovers Youth Training Scheme trials, only to be told he was not good enough to be accepted on to the scheme.

He said: "After that I did not expect to be playing at this level. Everything is going really well for me at the moment."

He is enjoying his season at Hardenhuish and is glad to be part of the title push.

"We are in a great position, it is getting exciting now as we all have the belief we can win the league."