Hythe Town forward Josh Byford has 95 goals in 119 games under the management of Andy Crush and Marc Richards – and he isn’t even a natural goalscorer

Hythe Town forward Josh Byford isn’t considered a natural goalscorer - even though his remarkable record suggests otherwise.

Byford scored twice, including an injury-time winner, as the Cannons won 3-2 at Lewisham Borough last weekend to extend their 100 per cent record in Southern Counties East Division 1.

He moved on to 95 goals in just 119 games under Andy Crush and his assistant Marc Richards at Deal Town Reserves, Hawkinge and now Hythe.

“Byf was one of the first people we signed six years ago at Deal, when Marc was the manager and I was the coach,” said Crush.

“He’s been with us all that time. He had one season away from us when he played for the first team but he still played 11 games for us that season and scored 13 goals.

“He’s one of those who came from Hawkinge to Hythe with us and there were question marks about whether some of these players were going to be good enough.

“But he played 25 games for Deal when they won the SCEFL Prem, so he’s got that in him, and he’s performing really well.

“The funny thing is, and he’d probably agree, he’s not a natural goalscorer. He’s not your in-behind and I’m just going to finish everything I get type of player.

“He’s got an all-round game, he brings others into play and he’ll take his chances.

“On Saturday, he ended up becoming the No.10 when he scored both goals.

“He’s not a natural finisher but he seems to be doing pretty well at it.”

Jake Embery, a summer signing from Bearsted, continued his good form with the opener at Lewisham as Hythe made it six wins out of six.

The pair are bringing out the best in each other.

“They both want to score lots of goals - all strikers do,” said Crush.

“There’s Jake and Byf and then we’ve got two other lads in Harry Codd and Richie