In-form Bibury host high-flying Dursley Town on Saturday in buoyant mood after inflicting a first defeat of the season on Northern Senior League Division One leaders Longlevens Reserves at the weekend.

And it was an emphatic win too – they won 4-1 – a result that establishes them firmly in the top half of the table.

“It was a helluva result,” said Les Smith, a former player and the current club secretary.

“We’re on a good run at the moment, we’ve been really consistent and turned our season around.”

Bibury finished third in Division Two last season and despite an uncertain start to the current campaign are on course for their best ever finish in their more than 100-year history.

“We’ve played at this level before but we’ve never stayed up for more than a year,” explained Smith.

“We’re having a good season. Originally the aim was to stay up but now we’re setting our sights a bit higher.”

Bibury are currently seventh in the 16-strong division, with 23 points from 12 games, 11 points behind the leaders with three in hand.

They trail third-placed Dursley by 10 points having played one game fewer and Smith continued: “The next step is the Gloucestershire County League.

“It’s difficult to get promoted because only one team goes up but we’ve got Dursley at home on Saturday and Tredworth at home in three or four weeks.

“Brockworth are another of the top teams who have still to come to Bibury.”

Manager Dan Shannon – he was player/boss last season – has set up his side in a 4-4-2 formation and the goals have certainly been flowing.

“We play with two wide midfielders,” continued Smith. “We’ve got a big pitch at Bibury and it’s a system that works.

“We’ve beaten Lydney Reserves 5-1 and Smiths Barometrics 7-2.”