EAST Thurock United boss Lee Patterson has pledged to step up the search for a new striker.

Speaking in the build up to Saturday's trip top high-flying Hampton and Richmond in the wake of Tuesday night's home Ryman Premier League defeat against Tonbridge Angels Patterson said he believed if his side had scored the first goal against angels they would have gone on to win.

He said: "The most frustrating thing about the last two games is we have played really well and worked really hard in three out of four 45 minutes periods and came away with only one point.

"The conditions were difficult in which the wind was blowing towards the church end and we defended stoutly against it in the first half, but I think the players thought the job was already done and we never applied ourselves properly in the second half.

"Give credit to Tonbridge who worked hard and adapted better against the wind and once they scored their goal, they kept the ball well and killed off the game.

"Once again we missed two crucial chances at 0-0 and I believe if we had taken one of those, then the game would be different.

"Our lack of goals is a little worrying and I will now look around for a forward who has the hunger to score goals."