Hamilton Parish winger Leroy Lewis Jr is already more than halfway to hitting his target before the Premier League season has even started.

Lewis was hoping to eclipse the seven goals he scored during the previous campaign but he has already netted five times in two Dudley Eve Trophy matches, including a hat-trick in his team’s 6-1 demolition of Wolves in their opening group A game.

“It’s been a good start to the season for me and for the team to pick up wins in our first two games,” Lewis told The Royal Gazette.

“Personally my performances have been decent. Not to my standards, but I have scored a few goals, so that has been good.

“Having more goals and assists this season is key for me because I feel that the few games that I played last season, performance-wise I played well but was lacking the goals and assists. So it’s been a good start to this season stats-wise.”

The son of former PHC Zebras player and coach, Leroy “Nibs“ Lewis is happy to be back to full health and getting more minutes on the pitch.

“Over the past few years I have had a few injuries and stops and starts to my season,” Lewis said.

“But now that I am playing week in and week out, getting that game time and training every week, my confidence is getting back to where I know I can be and I see my levels getting back to where I was when I was playing regularly.

“I am just getting back into full swing for a full season and trying to stay injury free. I’m doing my extras in training as well, and I think that’s what’s helping me.”

Lewis could not have asked for a better start to the campaign after bagging the season’s first hat-trick in his first outing of the fledgling campaign against Premier Division newcomers Wolves.

“I scored a goal and the second one came early, so that’s when the thought started to come about the hat -trick,” he said.

“I scored my second goal in the 40th minute so after that I knew the hat-trick would come and luckily I got a fourth in the second half, so that was a good game.”

Parish top their Dudley Eve group and need only take a point off PHC in the final game at Goose Gosling Field on Sunday to guarantee a semi-final spot.

“We know PHC need a win to go through so we are expecting a tough game, but I feel my team is ready,” Lewis said.

“My dad is a PHC fan and I have ties with PHC obviously through him, but I am a Hamilton Parish boy. I grew up in Hamilton Parish and Hamilton Parish is all I’ve known, so it will be nice to get one up on my dad.

“We are preparing just as we did for the first two games and based on our team this season I think we are definitely ready to compete.

“I think people don’t really put us out there with the big names because Hamilton Parish don’t really have the history the other teams have.

“But with the talent we have in our team I think we are definitely ready to compete this season and we are trying to add trophies this season. That’s the main goal because last season we lost in three semi-finals, so we are just looking to progress from last year and make that final step.”

Lewis spent three years grooming his skills at West Ham Academy and has previous experience playing at non-league level. His plan is to return to England at the earliest opportunity to continue pursuing his dream of playing at professional level.

“Since I am back in Bermuda I am keeping fit playing for Hamilton Parish but my own goal is to get back to England in the future and work my way up,” he said.

“Right now I have offers in non- league in England, which is still a good level, but I just have stuff I have to take care of here.

“I have priorities in Bermuda right now but once I do get back I want to progress through the non-league ranks and play as high as possible, whether that be in England or anywhere else in Europe.”