WIVENHOE TOWN manager Mo Osman believes the lack of a regular goal-scorer is the missing piece in his Dragons jigsaw.

The GMP Plant Hire side are third from bottom in the Thurlow Nunn League premier division and are the second-lowest scorers, with seven goals from their eight matches so far.

Only Long Melford and Fakenham Town, the bottom two, have managed less, both hitting the back of the net three times.

Osman believes his side play attractive football and have plenty of attributes - but converting chances is not one of them.

“It’s been the story of our season,” he told the Gazette, speaking ahead of tonight’s match at BRANTHAM ATHLETIC.

“We play good football and create a lot of chances, but don’t take them.

“We’re not a million miles away.

“We’re a good side and probably a striker away from getting lots more points.

“But whoever we’ve played up front hasn’t scored regularly enough and if you don’t score, you don’t win games.

“We’re being patient with what we’ve got but at some point you probably have to try something different.”

Osman is always on the lookout for new attacking talent but also believes the answer could already be within his squad.

“We play attractive football, but it’s not necessarily winning football at this level,” he added.

“The attractive football will only become winning football if we put the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis.

“Then we’ll be much closer to the finished article because we’ve got a good goalkeeper, a settled back four and plenty of options in midfield.

“Up front we’ve got good players and they work hard, but when the chances come we haven’t been able to score regularly.

“When you’re on top, you have to score at this level - otherwise you get punished - and we don’t want to be saying the same thing in three or four months.

“It’s something we need to address now.”

Brantham joint-boss Brothers has hinted that changes will be made following Friday’s 5-1 defeat at leaders Felixstowe and Walton.

Prior to that, the mid-table Imps had shipped six in their FA Vase defeat at Redbridge.

“After conceding 11 in our last two games, expect some changes to the starting 11,” said Brothers.

“Adam Bloss is a week away from availability but other than that we have a full squad available.”

Elsewhere tonight, Thurlow Nunn League sides are in Essex Senior Cup action.

FC CLACTON host Southend Manor, COGGESHALL TOWN travel to Hullbridge Sports and HALSTEAD TOWN visit Stansted. All of those ties in the second round. LITTLE OAKLEY are away to Hadleigh United in the League Challenge Cup.