United boss: our best is still to come

. . . and this after four wins without conceding

Four wins and four clean sheets have made it a perfect start for Ashford United but Danny Lye believes they haven’t been at their best.

The player-boss is targeting maximum points from the Southern Counties East League, Premier Division Bank Holiday weekend double-header at Erith Town on Saturday and at home to Sheppey United on Monday.

But he admitted: “We haven’t hit the ground running.

“The FA Cup win against Three Bridges was our most complete performance so far and we are on a good run but there is still a lot more to come.

“We could have been 4-0 up at half-time but didn’t take our chances, although I am not worried. We are looking tight as a unit, nobody has got around the back of us and most efforts have come from outside the box.”

Goalkeeper George Kamurasi is proving a big barrier as United’s last line of defence and Lye said: “George just loves making saves.

“At training the other night, he was disappointed because nobody was hitting the target.”

Lye was also pleased with youngster Luke Eldridge’s display in his first senior start against the Ryman League, Division 1 South club.

“He brings so much energy to the side, gets himself into good positions, which is great to see.”

Lye admits Eldridge’s emergence after impressing in pre-season, has increased competition in the side, with Taser Hassan leaving the club last week, unable to claim a starting place. He said: “I am blessed with what I have got in the squad but Taser knows he didn’t do enough in pre-season and has been in touch wanting to come back.

“We have also got Ryan Palmer available again on Monday.”

The Erith game takes place at VCD’s Oakwood ground in Crayford, while United will be looking to avenge the Kent Senior Trophy final defeat against Sheppey at Maidstone in April.

“We owe ourselves one for that because we didn’t turn up that day,” said Lye.

United’s 1-0 FA Cup win against Three Bridges sees them away to Ryman League, Premier Division Burgess Hill in the first qualifying round on Saturday week.

Lye trained himself for the first time this week but says he won’t be rushing back to play, due to his long-term back problem.

He said: “I enjoyed it, but I felt it in the morning. It’s hard to give up totally after 18 years.”

‘It was our most complete performance so far but there is still a lot more to come’