GRAEME Banyard is desperate for Merstham to start winning – especially with a 'meet the manager night' looming, writes Ian Lamont.

He believes the Moatsiders will be able to forget a 5-1 thumping at home on Saturday by Croydon Athletic quickly, because the Rams are a "class" side.

But points from trips to Walton & Hersham on Saturday, then Walton Casuals next Tuesday, are vital if Merstham are to justify his belief that the squad is strong enough to leap from 12th to the top six.

Banyard is still pursuing Leon Simpson, sent back by Leatherhead, whom Merstham now sit just above in the Ryman One South, to Farnborough after a recent loan.

Meanwhile, he is due to have a meeting with Charlton tomorrow (Friday) to discuss players.

Two Academy youngsters have been on "work experience" at Moatside, but were recalled before last Saturday because Charlton's first team had a flu outbreak.

On Saturday's game, he said: "I think the result was fully justified. They are a good side and if they don't win the league I would be surprised. They are a much stronger unit than when we played them at their place."

Both sides are much changed since that 1-0 defeat in October.

"I don't think we'll play a better side than them this season," Banyard added. "The boys knew on Saturday we were beaten by a better side so we will be saying 'just get that out of your heads and focus on Saturday'. In the first half we didn't start like we had in the previous couple of games."

He remains positive. "Walton & Hersham are up and down and Walton Casuals are scrapping for survival, so there are no easy games. But I'm confident we've got a top five or six side. It's just a case of getting our confidence back."

Despite conceding five goals, Banyard said centre-backs Sam Hewitt and Craig Vernon were two of the better performers against the Rams. "The last couple of months have been a bit poor. But a couple of wins will get us back into the top six or seven, but we've got to start getting that win under our belts."

One addition to the side was Dale Marvell, from Epsom & Ewell, who Banyard had worked with at Banstead but whom supporters did not see the best of in a heavy defeat.

But Simpson, the 6ft 7in striker who departed for Farnborough in the autumn, remains an elusive target, via the Farnborough manager who has yet to return Banyard's calls.

Winger Liam Bellamy and tall centre-back James Anderson, the Charlton pair, could make all the difference. "Charlton have been as good as gold," he said. "We're going for a meeting on Friday where we could find out if players could come to us this or next season."

Another crunch date lies ahead: "We've got a 'meet the manager night at the end of the month' and there are a few people that have been asking questions about what is going on in the team.

"We've had to bring some players in halfway through the season.

"Others who are now floating about are probably not good enough, but we can't keep using that as an excuse."