Ramsgate striker Joe Taylor on scoring four times in 9-1 thrashing of Phoenix Sports and having 23 goals by mid-November

Prolific Ramsgate striker Joe Taylor is well on course for his best-ever season - but he’s setting no targets.

Taylor scored four times in Rams’ 9-1 win over Phoenix Sports on Saturday, taking his tally to 23 by mid-November.

It’s a superb return for a player who’s driven by a desire to score goals.

He hit 37 for Isthmian Premier Lewes last season and few would bet against him beating that.

Ramsgate are three points clear in Isthmian South East and host Hythe tomorrow tonight (7.45pm).

“It’s going well,” said Taylor, 32. “I haven’t set any goals, I just want to keep myself fit.

“I’m in the best shape I’ve been in for a long time.

“I’ve played with a couple of niggles but I’m injury-free and I just want to carry on the way I am.

“If I keep picking up goals here and there I’ll be near the 40 mark, which is something I haven’t done before, but I’m not setting any targets for the end of the season.

“We’re still very young in the league campaign, aren’t we?

“To have 23 by the middle of November is crazy but let’s just see where it takes me.”

Twenty goals used to be the benchmark for a quality striker but today’s players are blowing that figure out of the water.

Taylor said: “I remember when I was first playing for Ramsgate and Jim Ward said to me, ‘Joe, you’re on the bench, Ian Pulman’s starting, he’ll get me 15-20 goals every year, without fail’. I used to be thinking, ‘I wish I could be Ian Pulman’.

“I don’t know why it’s changed so much.

“Maybe players are playing more games and they’re much fitter these days and so strikers are scoring more consistently.

“I don’t know but I’ve scored 30 most seasons I’ve played in the last eight or nine years, so I am fairly consistent.

“It just seems normal to me now but when you think