against him reaching his 30-goal target this season.

But he still believes his strike rate of a goal every two games is quite an achievement.

By the time Rotherham complete their league season with an away match against York and a home match against Stockport, Goater will have played in 52 league and cup games since last August, an indication that he has finally established himself as a regular starter in the team.

His 25 goals this season make him the club's top scorer and put him in joint third position among the division's top marksmen.

"I'm happy with what I've achieved,'' said Goater yesterday. "With two games left I'm looking to add one more. I've looked at the amount of games I've played and with two games left it would make it a total of 52 games and I'm looking at at least 26 goals. So my record stands at one goal every two games which I'll be more than happy with.'' Goater has missed only a couple of games for Rotherham this season, the first when he was dropped early in the season and the second when he returned home for a cousin's funeral.

The season has been a demanding one for the Bermudian, whose goals have helped Rotherham avoid relegation to the Third Division. They pulled themselves into a position of safety by taking four points from their last three matches.

"I'm a bit shattered and I'm just trying to get through it,'' Goater said in anticipation of a summer break back home. "Training hasn't reduced in any shape or form. This is the first season where I've been in so regular. It's been difficult for my body but I'm happy that I completed 50-plus games.'' The scoring success of both Goater and Bermuda's other English pro, Kyle Lightbourne, is likely to attract some attention from clubs at the end of the season. Certainly their respective managers, Archie Gemmill and Chris Nicholl, are expected to do whatever they can to hold on to their top scorers.

Lightbourne has not yet signed a new contract with Walsall and will be out of contract at the end of the season while Goater still has one year remaining on the two-year deal he signed last May.

"I've always had belief in myself. It was just a matter of being in regular,'' said Goater.

"I think my manager will be happy with it (25 goals) as well, although he doesn't say much. They are not quick to let you know how well you've done but they are quick to let you know you're playing badly.'' Goater has kept his place in the team since Gemmill took over as manager, despite the presence of experienced players like Imre Varadi and Bobby Davison.

"Imre Varadi was in the wings and he went out and bought Bobby Davison so he's bought experienced players as well,'' said Goater.

Varadi recently had an altercation with the manager after a reserve division game and was fired.

Goater admitted there was a friendly rivalry between himself and Lightbourne in their scoring, both probably hoping to beat the other to 30 goals this season.

"We haven't said it face to face that we're competing but if we're honest with each other I think, yes, there is competition,'' Goater admitted. "And I think it's good, because look what we've produced. At the end of the day I think it will benefit the youth in Bermuda.

"It's a case where you hope he's scoring because if he is then you are saying `I've got to pick my boots up and sort myself out'. We both call each other but in all honesty there is competition.

"When I was in Bermuda I didn't know Kyle but I know him that much better now that we're out here and we've got a more friendly relationship.'' The pair, who led Bermuda's attack in the World Cup qualifiers in 1992, have been a source of inspiration for each other during the season, with Goater having had a slow start following the distraction caused by interest shown in him by First Division club Port Vale. Both have learned, now, to ignore transfer rumours until a concrete offer is made.

"It took me to the beginning of the season to put rumours out of my head,'' Goater explained. "I so much wanted it to happen and when it didn't I was down, and it affected my play.

"After that I decided to just do the business and worry about the rumours at the end of the season after I had done what I had to do. I have had no thoughts whatsoever about anybody being interested in me.

"Kyle has learned that much faster than I did. He's done well in the sense that he's just done what he had to do.'' Goater's goalscoring exploits this season suggest he might now be offered a move to a higher division. The former Manchester United reserve player is one of nine strikers in the division with 20 or more goals.

Goater, who once roomed with Lee Sharpe at Manchester United and was also a team-mate of Mark Robbins, has been languishing in the lower divisions since his transfer to Rotherham four years ago. But he has no regret about joining United where there were few opportunities for youngsters coming through the ranks.

"I don't regret it, it got me started,'' he said, pointing out that only a few of the players he played with were still in the game. "A good 10 of them are just not playing at all,'' said Goater.

His perseverance has meant that Goater is no longer considered a foreign player, having obtained residency status which eases the worry of having to re-apply for a work permit.

Shawn Goater