The Wessex League's joint top scorer Jamie Laidlaw has thanked Winchester City boss Neil Hards for reviving his appetite for football.

After two seasons burying goals galore for Chichester City United in the Sussex County League, the 27-year-old son of former Portsmouth skipper, Joe, admits he was almost lost to the game before joining Winchester towards the end of last term.

The ex-Yeovil, Bashley and Newport IoW marksman recalled: "In my first season at Chichester I scored 38 goals and I got 34 in the second season, but in the third year things weren't going so well for me personally and I left.

"I did nothing for a month and, that's when I got the call from Hardsy. I got myself fit, signed for Winchester and started enjoying my football again."

With last Saturday's FA Vase brace against Alton lifting his season's league and cup tally to 25, Laidlaw is thanking his lucky stars his old Newport teammate Hards talked him out of the doldrums.

Winchester, the FA Vase/ Wessex League/League Cup treble winners, are renowned for their exciting brand of, skilful, attacking play and Laidlaw admitted: "This is some of the best football I've ever experienced.

"Winchester have got loads of good, young footballers and we're all encouraged to play the game the right way.

"The service is brilliant. We create lots of chances and that's why I've scored so many goals. It'll be difficult to get anywhere near the 76 Andy Forbes got last season, but maybe I'll do it over a couple of years!"

Like so many Winchester players past and present, Laid-law's game has come on in leaps and bounds in his stay at the Denplan City Ground - a fact he puts down to an in-spirational management team.

He said: "Everyone's game improves when they come here. Steve Moss does the coaching and he makes training so enjoyable. We do something different every week.

"Hardsy's fantastic to play for. Because he was a player himself, he really knows how to treat people. I've had bosses in the past who haven't played and their man-management skills are not too good."

Throughout Laidlaw's car-eer, dad Joe has been an inspiration. He holds a special place in the affections of the Fratton Park faithful having skippered Pompey throughout their Fourth Division promotion season of 1979-80.

"He's always encouraged me with my football but he's never pressured me," said Laidlaw junior.

"My dad's the first person I go to for advice. He's involved in football himself managing Sidlesham in the Sussex League, but he comes and watches me if they haven't got a game."

Laidlaw and fellow Pompey-based striker Jamie Mussel-white have made such a big impression that Forbes's old sidekick Ian Mancey has been warming the bench in recent weeks.

Laidlaw smiled: "Mance is a great player and I'm sure he'll be in the side again soon.

"We'll have to take our turn on the bench, but there's never any bad feeling as we respect each other." There could be more goals tomorrow when table-topping City visit third-to-bottom Portland.

Sydenhams Wessex Lge hotshots

(up to and including November 20)

Ian Davies (Thatcham) 16, Jamie Laidlaw (Winchester City) 16, Jamie Musselwhite (Winchester City) 15, Ian Mancey (Winchester City) 14, Gareth Barnes (Wimborne Town) 11, Phil Andrews (Andover) 9, Darren Crooks (Lymington & NM) 9, Graham Lindsey (Gosport) 9, Mark Osman (AFC Totton) 9, Lee Chudy (AFC Newbury) 8, Stuart Findlay (Bemerton Heath) 8, Kevin James (Lymington & NM) 8.