ASHLEY Wells is excited by the Terras’ hot form so far this season, and believes a place outside of the play-offs in the Southern Premier League is “not acceptable” this time around.

The defender, who joined from Portland United in February 2012, has been described as a revelation by boss Jason Matthews with the way he has started the campaign at right-back.

But Wells believes that it is the strength of the squad around him which has made him up his game.

He told Echosport: “It’s always nice to get compliments but I am playing well because I’m in a good team and I’m surrounded by better players that push you.

“In training I am learning off of players that are technically better and they can give you advice. It’s nice to have the older lads who have been at League clubs there to say to me what I need to do to be a better player.

“The play-offs are the minimum we are going for and anything other than that is not acceptable, at the moment it is looking alright, I don’t want to be too confident but we should be up there.

“This year technically we are much better, the players we have got and what we are capable of is exciting and it’s good to be a part of that.”

Wells also believes that the consistency and spirit of the personnel within the squad has been pivotal in the Terras’ strong start.

“We had a lot of loan players before and you didn’t know who was in one week and who was out,” he added.

“With this group we have been together all the way through pre-season and that is when you start to make your bonds.

“The lads that have come in look at me in a senior role now because I have been at the club a long time and Yetts (Stewart Yetton) said to me the other day that I have to be a bit more vocal because that’s the only thing I lack at the moment.”

With a team around him that he believes is the best since his arrival at the Bob Lucas Stadium, Wells is delighted to have stayed injury free so far this term, which he has put down to hard work over the summer months.

He added: “My problem last year was that I would get four games in and have a niggle and it keeps pushing you back.

“This year I have looked after myself in the summer, eaten properly and been to the gym to build my muscles up to make sure I don’t have any injuries.”