Mildenhall Town striker Steve Holder has called for Hall players to roll their sleeves up.

The Suffolk side have endured an inconsistent opening three months in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division, and sit 14th in the table as things stand.

Hall have won six and lost seven of their 15 league games so far, with Saturday’s 4-2 home defeat to Kirkley & Pakefield one of their most frustrating defeats.

Holder, who returned to Recreation Way earlier this season after a spell trying his luck at higher-level Bury Town, accepts that results and performances have not been good enough.

He said: “I think we are underachieving. In fact, I know we are.

“Christian (Appleford, the Hall manager) certainly knows it, he kept us on the pitch after the game against Kirkley and basically it isn’t good enough at the minute.

“As a team, everyone needs to step up. It ruins your weekend when you lose, and I’m gutted when we do.

“You want to be celebrating a win on Saturday night with a few drinks, ideally with a couple of goals and a clean sheet. That’s not going to happen all the time, but collectively we need to put more hard work and passion in to get to where we want to.”

Appleford’s side have scored 30 goals this season, a tally that sees them compete with some of the division’s top sides, but the ultimate problem has been conceding goals.

Hall have shipped 35 goals so far – only fellow mid-table sides Walsham-le-Willows, Haverhill Rovers and Brantham Athletic, as well as basement dwellers Diss Town and Ely City, have conceded more.

“Going forward we’re scoring goals and creating chances, but conceding the goals is the problem,” confirmed Holder, who has netted five times in 11 appearances since coming back to the club.

“That’s the thing. In our last two games we’ve conceded eight goals and we’re going to find it hard to win games.

“We lost Adam Murray to Cambridge City and haven’t really replaced him. It’s something we need to address.”

Holder has virtually been an ever-present since his re-arrival to Recreation Way after deciding to move down a league following an early-season spell in the Ryman Premier Division with Bury Town.

“It’s nice to be back, it’s a good club ran by good people and I’ve been here for a few years,” added Holder, who scored three goals for Bury this season.

“I’m a Bury lad so I thought I’d give it a go and to be fair, I think I did alright.

“I still think I’m their top scorer (this season), but the travelling was too much of an issue for me with my work commitments.

“It was a good experience and I glad I tested myself at that level, it’s a big step.”

Holder will now look to focus on scoring the goals for a Mildenhall side who desperately want to climb up that league table.