A GIANT forward is Merstham boss Graeme Banyard's priority as he tries to rekindle the club's promotion bid, writes Ian Lamont.

Banyard failed with a seven-day approach for Chipstead defender Jason Thompson recently.

But he said the team lacked a "strong" striker to help them arrest a slump that has reaped one league win – and just six points – in seven games for his ninth-placed side.

The challenges do not get any easier, with hard-working Godalming Town, in third, due to visit Moatside on Saturday.

"The priority is a target man. It showed on Saturday," he added, outlining his frustration at a 3-2 defeat at Chatham Town.

Merstham had Tristan Frontin sent off on 66 minutes, but equalised soon after through Craig Carley. After going behind again, Billy Marshall made it 2-2, only for Lee Barnett's strike to catch defender Craig Vernon and loop over keeper Ian Chatfield late on.

Banyard said: "We've got Craig Carley, Carl Gibbs and Billy Marshall who are good foxes in the box, but you don't expect them to bully a centre-half.

"We played quite well with 10 men and I said to the lads if they had started the game like that we would've won. It was another frustrating game in the life of Merstham Football Club.

"We can't keep dropping points like that if we want to get back into the top five."

Thompson has not been Banyard's only target, and the Weldon Way boss said he found it "annoying" how much money players believe they can get. He said he might now hunt for new blood in lower divisions.

He has been boosted by the return of Mu Maan, who had trials for a professional contract in Dubai.

Banyard said: "He went there towards the end of last season and got asked back at Christmas. I don't think anything is going to happen for him over there and he's come back to the snow and the rain here – I think he's made the wrong decision!"

Maan, a midfield player, might find his chances restricted by the arrival of Neil Lampton, who had another good game at Chatham.