STRIKERS Matt Price and Rob Harvey are forging a partnership that is paying rich dividends for Heybridge Swifts, writes JON LONGMAN.

They teamed up to deepen Tilbury’s relegation worries with Price nodding home Harvey’s cross in their first attack to secure a 1-0 Isthmian North Division away win at Chadfields.

“It was a fantastic result that keeps us going, keeps our spirits up and keeps us going towards the play-offs,” said Swifts manager Steve Tilson.

“We got off to a great start with a fantastic ball in by Rob Harvey and Pricey got on to the end of it to give us a lead in the second minute.”

Price had a second chance soon after the first but the goal was chalked off for offside and he is eager to score again in Swifts next must win game.

Tilson said: “It is a big game at East Thurrock on Saturday. If we can get a good result there, it puts us right back among the playoff contenders with some of the top teams still to play us.

“If we put a repeat performance on a pitch similar to this one then there is no reason why we can’t go there and pick up three points.”

The games at Stowmarket on Easter Saturday and Felixstowe & Walton on April 22, the last day of the season, probably hold the key to unlocking entry to the playoffs.

Currently, the Swifts are two points behind Felixstowe and four adrift of Stowmarket with both their rivals having a game in hand on Tilson’s side who occupy seventh place thanks to the efforts of Price and Harvey.

Tilson added: “Some games you have to dig in and grind out a result.

“We knew it was going to be a scrappy game because the pitch was heavy and it was always going to cut up.

“After that it was a case of making sure that we defended properly to grind out the result.”

Tilson is sparing in his praise for individuals but he highlighted the performances of Sam Carter and Tyler Brampton who have battled on through injuries.

The Swifts boss added: “I thought Sam was fantastic and Tyler did ever so well but everyone of them helped the others to get the result I thought we deserved.

“We had two or three chances late in the second half when we should have killed them off.”