Harrison's on fire

Sep 3 2008 By Terry Ryan, Staines News

Ryman Premier Ashford Town....................1 Canvey Island...................0

BYRON HARRISON bagged his sixth goal in five games as tabletoppers Ashford maintained their 100 per cent start to the season against Canvey Island on Saturday.

Hotshot Harrison scored the only goal of the game just after the half-hour mark, latching onto Adam Logie's long throw before smashing the ball home from just inside the box.

Tangerines boss Mark Butler had to do without Warren Harris, who was away on holiday, so utility man Brett Cooper filled the void on the wing.

Both sides shared the early exchanges, Chris Moore headed over for the visitors while Paul Johnson had a shot saved from Ricky Wellard's corner as Ashford pressed for an opener.

But Ashford made the telling breakthrough in the 32nd minute when Harrison beat the offside trap to fire past Ricky Wiseman.

Neither side mustered any clear-cut opportunities thereafter, but the visitors almost nicked a leveller late on.

However, Johnson was in the right place at the right time to clear off the line following a bout of head tennis.

Ashford thought they had sealed the win four minutes from time, but substitute Gavin Smith's effort was ruled out for offside.

The Tangerines had a scare of their own in the dying minutes, but they too were saved by the linesman's flag.

John Curran was the man denied, and Canvey left empty-handed as Ashford continued their unblemished start to the season.

Heybridge Swifts.....................0 Ashford Town...........................1

FOR the second time in a week, one goal was good enough to maintain Ashford's 100 per cent start to the new campaign.

Gavin Smith replaced Scott Harris in the only change from Saturday's line-up.

The Tangerines took the lead after just six minutes, when Adam Logie unleashed an unstoppable shot from 30 yards.

Ashford continued to boss the game for the first 20 minutes, but slowly Heybridge began to feature as an attacking force.

It took some dogged defence, led by the excellent centre back partnership of Billy Jeffreys and Stuart Bamford, to keep the home side at bay.

Town still looked dangerous on the break, however, and Paul Johnson saw a 30-yard free kick come back off the angle of post and bar.

Then Swifts' keeper Olly Morris-Sanders made a great save to deny Brett Cooper.