No cash to splash but Bradbury needs more goals

Bradbury has spent his budget and will have to move players out before drafting in any reinforcements.

For a second season running the Hawks are suffering with a lack of goals from their strikers

Last season it was a rock solid defence, along with 16 goals from the midfield by Scott Donnelly that fired them into the Conference South play-offs.

This season the Hawks have conceded 48 goals in 23 games – the worst defensive record in the league.

That along with a lack of goals from the strikers has seen them fall into the bottom three.

Bradbury needs his current strikers to start finding the net.

‘At the moment I have to go with what I have got but we do have a problem scoring,’ said the Hawks boss.

‘We are certainly creating enough chances but are not putting them away.

‘That is hurting us badly and we are being punished for it.

‘If you score the first goal in a game, 90 percent of the time you end up getting something from a game.

‘We have not been doing that enough.

‘It showed again at Hemel Hempstead where we ended up losing 2-0 after failing to convert early chances.

‘Matt Paterson missed a couple of one-on-ones and Shamir Mullings could have done better with a cross that picked him out in front of goal.’

Bradbury brought Paterson in from Gosport Borough during the summer after the ex-Southampton player scored 15 goals in 38 appearances.

His strike partnership with Borough legend Justin Bennett was the most potent in the league.

Bradbury also brought in the experienced Marvin Morgan, hoping he and Paterson could form a similar partnership.

So far that has failed to materialise with Morgan struggling to hold down a regular place in the side.

The former Plymouth and Shrewsbury striker is yet to score a league goal for the Hawks.

And Paterson has hit the net just once in the National League South since the beginning of September.

Meanwhile, strikers Shamir Mullings and James Hayter have largely been limited to substitute appearances.

Bradbury admits his front men have to start scoring if the Hawks are to survive.

‘Something must change,’ he said.

‘As the old saying goes you are only as good as your strikers.

‘It is my job, if things on the pitch are not working, to try to rectify things.

‘I am contemplating changing things throughout the team, not just the strikers.

‘We need to maintain our belief and other players also need to take responsibility for scoring.’