GOALS king Byron Harrison hopes his perfect run from the penalty spot will continue long into the future.

The Barrow AFC hitman heads to Bristol Rovers on Sunday having scored six of his 17 goals for the season from 12 yards out, with a 100 per cent conversion rate.

Having taken over the duties from Ross Hannah – who has one penalty to his name as well this season, in the defeat at Dover Athletic in August – Harrison has seemingly perfected the short run-up technique.

Coming in off only two strides, he gives the goalkeeper little chance to react and often seems to pick his spot after his opponent has gone the other way.

Boreham Wood, Southport, Eastleigh, Taunton Town, Guiseley and Dagenham and Redbridge have all discovered that fouling a Barrow player in the area is costly this term, with Harrison stepping up and slotting home in a calm and collected manner.

It is this relaxed approach which the 29-year-old feels is key to his success – though he stresses he is only the stand-in penalty-taker and would take a back seat should Hannah be on the field when one is awarded.

“With my type of body language, it enables me to come across as really relaxed,” the former Stevenage and Chesterfield frontman said. “That’s just my natural style. I don’t like to take a long run-up – I know with a lot of people that’s not their preferred penalty style, but I try to get on to it as quickly as possible and not give the keeper much time to make up his mind about where he wants to dive. I try to take control of the situation. That’s my style. Everyone is different.

“As I have said before, if Ross Hannah plays, he’s the penalty-taker. I’ve just been taking them in his absence.

“Long may the run continue. I want to keep adding goals.

“The technique seems to be working for me at the moment, so I’m happy with that.”

Harrison’s penalties have helped him rise to second in the National League goalscoring charts – with all but one of his spot-kicks having come in the league.

He is second only to high-flying Dover Athletic striker Ricky Miller – who has scored an astounding 21 times in 22 matches – with 16 to his name and not quite half the season gone.

That is a fine record to take into the FA Cup match-up with League One Rovers this weekend, a team he has played against several times in his career.

The Londoner puts this run down to the faith shown in him by manager Paul Cox, who signed him close to the end of pre-season and who has started him in every match.

“I’ve been delighted with the goals recently,” said Harrison, who is part of a potent strike force with Richie Bennett, for the Bluebirds.

“I have a manager who puts me on the pitch regularly, and I’ve always known in myself that if I play enough games, then the goals will come. That’s the bit that comes naturally to most forwards, the instinct to score goals.

“If any striker gets a run of games, they can score. I’m playing in a team that’s on a run and full of confidence. Everyone is playing their part. I’ve been getting a few penalties recently, and that’s through my team-mates’ hard work.”