“Physicality” is a missing ingredient from Steeton’s squad as Roy Mason looks to bolster his team before the start of the new North West Counties League season.
The Steeton chief made the comments after his threadbare side’s 4-0 defeat to Albion Sports on Saturday.
Steeton have loads of injuries at press – with the likes of Ben Wignall, midfielder Luke Baldwin and goalkeeper Jordan Moorhouse on the treatment table.
“We have a shopping list of players we would like to bring in, it is more positions where we would like to improve,” Mason told Non League Yorkshire.
“We have to mindful that there is lads in and around Step 5 clubs at the moment, maybe at Silsden or Barnoldswick, who may start looking for clubs if they’re not getting game-time (later in pre-season).
“So we may have to wait (for them to become available).
“We definitely need to strengthen, we’ve said that.
“One of the big differences that was evident against Albion was physicality.
“Albion were lot bigger and more physical and that’s something we need to address.
“Centre-forwards have been an issue for us with Ben Wignall being injured and Andy Briggs being unavailable.
“It has meant we have been unable to have a big target man which we had last season.
“We’re playing with a false nine at the moment, but the players who have been playing, their strengths aren’t holding the ball up and the system we play does need someone who can hold the ball up.”
Mason and his coaches Adam Smith and ex-Hednesford Town and Guiseley goal-maker Stewart Airdrie endured a stressful week due to a goalkeeping crisis.
The trio thought they had solved their problem after Moorhouse picked up an injury.
However, disaster struck during the 2-1 win over Thackley, forcing a further search to ensure they had a stopper for the visit of Albion.
“Pre-season hasn’t been the easiest time for us with the goalkeeping scenario,” he said.
“Jordan Harding is our third goalkeeper this pre-season.
“Jordan Moorhouse came in last year and did really well for us and was in our plans to be the first choice goalkeeper for this season.
“Jordan has torn his quad so that’s put him out for a few weeks and we’re not sure how long he is going to be out for.
“We brought Stuart Cross in from Nelson last Tuesday and he lasted 20 minutes (against Thackley) as he fractured his face and nose.
“Crossy is obviously going to be out for quite a long time as well.
“We brought Jordan Harding in for the Albion game and I thought he did really well – he was at no fault for the goals, in fact he probably kept the score-line down to four.
“The last few days have been spent ringing a lot of people and we have now have a lot of goalkeepers in our phone books.
“But it is all about contacts at this level, knowing other managers to speak to and Farsley and Clitheroe have been very helpful along with Pettsy (goalkeeping coach Steve Petty) at Colne who gave us the tip-off about Jordan.”
Steeton have two local derbies at their fabulous Marley Stadium home in the next five days – beginning with the Archie Airdrie Trophy battle with Barnoldswick Town.
Focus will then turn to the visit of Danny Forrest’s Silsden.
What Mason will demand is a better showing than the one against Albion.
“The score-line was disappointing (against Albion),” he said.
“Pre-season is about fitness and preparation for that first game, but what was more disappointing was that at 2-0 down we seemed to capitulate and not show enough character.
“The third and fourth goal were far too easy for them.
“We had a few missing, not that I’m going to use that as an excuse.
“We had a couple of niggles as well. We had a player drop out during the warm-up as well because he had a niggle.
“These things don’t help, but equally I thought Albion were a good side – big, physical and they had good movement and they put us under a lot of pressure.”
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