David Knight is aiming to finish his first season at Wingate & Finchley by beating his own goal record and winning the Golden Boot.

And the prolific striker believes the Blues could maintain their rapid progress by becoming title contenders if they can fend off interest from other clubs and keep their squad together this summer.

Wingate were firmly in the play-off hunt last week, sitting two points outside the top five spots, but a 3-2 loss at Grays Athletic last Wednesday was followed by a 2-1 home defeat against title contenders Hendon on Monday, leaving them six points off the pace with three games left.

The dream is not dead yet as the Blues prepare to visit VCD Athletic tomorrow (Saturday), but Knight has personal goals as well. He has scored all three of Wingate’s goals in their last two games, taking his tally to 31 for the season – 26 of which have come in the league, leaving him four behind the division’s top marksman, East Thurrock’s Sam Higgins.

“As a striker you’ve got to set yourself goals and targets and that was always one of mine, to be the top goalscorer,” said the forward. “Last year when I was at Thurrock I got 35. I said if I get anywhere near that in the Ryman Premier League I’d be happy, but I’m four off now with three games to go so maybe I could beat it, you never know.

“I’ve enjoyed this season a lot. Coming here, I knew the lads played football and it’s a nice pitch. I always knew I’d score goals in a team that plays football.”

Wingate have been one of the surprise packages of the season, having finished in the bottom four last campaign, and Brentford and Wrexham are thought to have sent scouts to their recent game against Dulwich Hamlet, while other non-league sides may well show an interest in some of their talents.

“We’re not silly, clubs are going to be coming in to try to nick our players, but hopefully everyone stays together and we’ll push on again next season,” said Knight.

“I’m happy here, I’m happy to stay. It’s a good club with good people and there’s great banter with the lads. The pitch is lovely, the ground is nice. It’s a good club and we’ll just see what happens.

“We’ve had a brilliant season, there’s no doubt about that. If the boys stay together in the summer and we get a few more players in, you never know, maybe next year we could be pushing to win it.”