JONATHAN Smith is still pinching himself at the turnaround in his fortunes at the Interlink.

Not so long ago the centre half was out on loan at Barrow and contemplating a full-time move into the Conference North.

However, nowadays Smith is playing a huge part for the Reds as they keep pressing in the top six of the Nationwide Conference and he has chipped in with two goals and some solid performances at the back.

Manager John Coleman praised his defender's show in the goalless draw at Aldershot as "his best game in two years."

"I don't know about that," said the 28-year-old. "It's hard to think of all the games but I am loving it at the moment.

"I am playing reasonably well and am just happy to be back in. Aldershot have been scoring goals for fun so it was a solid team performance to keep them out."

He admits he is surprised by the way his circumstances have changed.

"I have gone from being unwanted to being a sub against Tamworth and coming on and scoring. I was man of the match and I was chuffed to bits with that.

"With that, I had done enough to get into the first team and now I am just loving every minute of it.

"I have started the last two games and done okay."

He admits the whole experience at Barrow could be the reason that he has come back stronger than ever.

"I went there with nothing to lose and the whole thing was a great confidence boost.

"It helped me as it showed I could still play and play well and then they gave me the responsibility of the captaincy.

"I went up with nothing to prove, I knew I was quite a decent player, I took a chance, did well and then came back and got a chance back here."

But Smith is not taking anything for granted as he knows things can quickly change.

"John (Coleman) is always looking to strengthen," said the defender, who has got his football coaching badges and is still doing some coaching at Hyndburn Sports Centre, where he had worked full-time until the summer.

"We have sat down and talked and he wants me to stay at the moment so I have just got to make sure I keep doing well.

"I know the calibre of players we can attract here. You only need to look at the keeper we have just signed who was on the bench in the Premiership last year.

"Good players want to come here so I know I haven't to rest on my laurels. If John sees someone he will buy him and so that it why we have all got to keep on our toes."

And he knows he needs to keep on top of his game on Saturday against Scarborough after they slipped to a 2-1 defeat towards the end of last season which saw the end of any play-off hopes

"I played there and came off when it was 1-1 and it is a hard place to go.

"Every time you pick up a match report for them, Neil Redfearn seems to have scored a goal so we know we will have to be at our best again."