Jonté Smith has refused to take sole credit for propelling North Village towards the summit of the Premier Division.

The North Village striker is off to a flyer after netting seven goals in four league appearances, including four in the 6-1 defeat of Devonshire Cougars at Devonshire Rec last weekend to put his side level on points with PHC at the top of the table after five games.

Yet rather than shower himself in personal glory, Smith has opted to share the plaudits with his team-mates, who he says have been instrumental in his prolific form.

“It was nice to score four goals, but I have team-mates that create the chances for me to finish,” Smith told The Royal Gazette.

“It could have been any one of our players that night. It just so happened that the chances came to me and I was able to take them. On another day it could have been four different goalscorers.

“I have scored seven goals in four games and all I look to do is put the next chance I get in the back of the net. I just try to put myself in positions where the creative players can find me so that I get as many as possible.”

Smith’s other goals came in Village’s league wins against Dandy Town (1-0), former club St George’s (3-1) and Dudley Eve Trophy finalists Hamilton Parish (5-0).

The 30-year-old comes with years of experience under his belt after previously playing professionally for a string of clubs in England, Northern Ireland, Norway and Finland.

He earned his first professional contract with National League outfit Sutton United in 2011 following a prolific season with the club’s under-18 squad before joining League One side Crawley Town the same year despite having not appeared in Sutton’s first team.

Smith retired from professional football after his contract with Irish outfit Ballymena United expired at the end of the 2021-22 season, citing a near-tragedy that befell father Clay Smith in the form of a life-threatening brain aneurysm as key to his decision to return to Bermuda for good.

Smith made a spectacular reintroduction to local football with a hat-trick in St George’s Colts’ 5-2 win over Hamilton Parish in October 2022 and achieved the same feat in the East Enders’ stunning 4-0 conquest of Village in the 2023-24 FA Cup final at Flora Duffy Stadium.

He was then among 95 players who opted to move during the summer transfer period and has made a seamless reintroduction to the Village team.

“It’s been very easy for me to transition into this team,” Smith said.

“This club is full of family to me so they welcomed me with open arms. I grew up at this club so there’s nothing but familiar faces all around.”

Village relinquished their Dudley Eve title after bowing out in the group stage of the competition, having fielded an ineligible player but will clearly be challenging for the title alongside PHC, who beat them in a thrilling conclusion to the Premier Division last season.

“The team is on a good run right now and it’s a real collective effort,” Smith said.

“The defence have only conceded two goals in the last four games and we’ve scored 15 in the last four, while the midfield has been crucial at both ends of the pitch.”