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Striker Smith extends loan at Met Police

Jonte Smith has had his loan to Metropolitan Police FC extended another month

Jonte Smith intends to make the most of an extended loan spell with Metropolitan Police FC.The Bermudian striker’s services have been secured by the non-league club for another month and during that period he hopes to add to his superb goal scoring exploits this term.Smith is Met Police’s current leading goal scorer with 16 goals from only 11 appearances since being loaned out from League One side Crawley Town FC last August.The former North Village youth footballer hopes another successful spell at Met Police will enhance his chances of breaking into Crawley Town’s first team.“If I can continue scoring the way I am then you never know what can happen ... I could be in the senior team at Crawley sooner,” Smith told The Royal Gazette. “The standard is pretty high, it’s a lot more physical than what I am used to. But that’s all part of developing my game and the more I play the more it will help me adapt easier once I move up to Crawley’s first team, whenever that happens.“I’ve been in a good run of form and enjoying myself (at Met Police). I’ve been playing with more confidence so I think I’ll score a lot more goals this month as well while I’m there.”Smith said he prefers playing non-league football with Met Police rather than playing with Crawley Town’s Reserves.“I enjoy it because you’re training every day and playing football week in and week out,” he added. “Being out on loan is a lot better knowing that all the games you’re playing are competitive and mean something instead of playing Reserve games where it’s not much meaning behind it other than getting a bit of game time to keep you fit.”Smith admitted he was disappointed when his month-long loan spell with Met Police expired last week.“I didn’t want to go back (to Crawley) because obviously I’m scoring goals there and just enjoying it,” he said. “The manager (Jim Cooper) is happy I signed another month and all the players are happy I’m still there. They are all just happy to have me around.“I have been enjoying my football there and got to know all the lads. They are all a good bunch of lads and I’ve fitted in well there.”Smith was ruled out of Met Police’s 2-1 defeat against Crawley Town last Saturday in the first round of the FA Cup because he was ineligible to turn out against his parent club.“Obviously I was a bit disappointed at not being able to play, but what can you really do?” he said. “Sometimes these things happen, so I just moved on from it.“I was at the game watching and was just hoping whichever team played the best on the day got through. Truthfully I think Met Police were a bit unlucky not to come away at least a replay at Crawley - it was a very good game.”If it was any consolation Smith had the privilege of being interviewed on Sky Sports in the lead up to last weekend’s FA Cup clash.“I would have never imagined at 18 I would be live on Sky Sports,” he said. “I was live on Sky Sports in the lead up to the match and again on Sky Sports for the pre-match and it was a great experience.”