A NEW STRIKER is the priority for Redbridge boss Jody Brown as he looks to address their run of three Ryman One North games without a win.

The Motormen chief has lost Elie Kayembe after the forward pulled a hamstring in Saturday’s 2-0 loss against Brentwood Town and saw his side fall to a 3-1 defeat to Romford on Tuesday night.

But the former Tiptree and Halstead Town boss believes a new goalscoring centre forward would address his side’s inability to convert in front of goal.

“The losses have been disappointing, but it is the nature of the defeats that are worrying me the most,” said Brown.

“We are creating chances at crucial times, which is a positive, but at the moment we are not taking them. Against Romford we had two or three very good chances with the score at 1-1, but the inability to convert has cost us, whilst at the other end we are conceding sloppy goals from set-pieces.

“But we are not getting carved open at the back and the mistakes are easily rectifiable. I am definitely in the market for a striker, with Elie’s injury leaving us very limited in what we can do.

“Regardless of the level, whether it is Essex Senior League, if they have the knack of converting chances then they could make all the difference.

“We are down the bottom for a reason, and generally the sides down the bottom that have a goal scorer will survive.”

Brown has brought in 17-year-old Leyton Orient scholar Chris Benjamin and the striker scored the goal against Romford, but the Oakside boss feels it would be unrealistic to rest his sides hopes on the youngster.

“His spell with us is all about him developing as a player and to get regular action,” he said.

“If he can play a part in helping us it would be great, but to pin our hopes on a 17-year-old would be too much.”

After Saturday’s home game against Potters Bar Town, the Motormen will then take on Tilbury at Oakside, and Brown believes it is these games against sides in and around them that will determine how the rest of the season will pan out.

“Potters Bar will be another very hard game,” said Brown.

“They are not a million miles away from the play-offs and two weeks ago they were right up there until a couple of bad results.

“But what’s important is to pick up wins against the likes of Tilbury, Waltham Forest, Ilford and anything against the top sides will be a bonus.”