Needham Market boss Mark Morsley has told his side to push on and start putting the points on the board.

Needham travel to 18th-placed Chatham tomorrow looking to keep in touch with the Ryman North play-off places.

“It’s a game we’ve got to win,” said Morlsey.

“We’ve got to crack on now and get points on the board.

“We’ve got a good squad who are settled and fit so we have no excuses.

“I told the boys at Wroxham that we have to push on in the New Year and if we want to keep in touch with the play-offs we have to win games like these. It’s as simple as that.

“Chatham have improved recently but nevertheless I expect us to go there in bullish mood and win the game.”

Following tomorrow’s game, Morsley’s men have a busy January period and the former Leiston boss is increasingly demanding more from his players over the course of the season.

“We’ve got Soham and Dereham coming up and we need to hit the ground running in 2014,” admitted Morsley.

“I’ll repeat that there’s no excuses and I am putting more pressure and expectation on the lads because I want more.”

Morsley recently allowed summer signing Jamie Guy to move on to fellow Ryman North side Heybridge Swifts and the Needham boss has wished the former Colchester United striker well.

“I wish Jamie all the best and thank him for his efforts,” said Morsley.

“It’s football, it happens and it’s not personal at all.

“I’ve said before that Jamie didn’t fit into our style of play and he knows that as well.

“He’ll be fine at Heybridge.”

Perhaps quite ironically, Needham secured the services of Swifts’ striker Russell Maldon just a few weeks earlier.

And Morsley admitted that Guy’s departure has opened up another potential place in his squad.

“We’ve got one or two embers in the fire, with hopefully more to come so we’ll see.

“Although the January transfer window doesn’t affect us directly, it could well do indirectly.

“We’re further down the food chain if you like, so if a Conference side let a striker go, one or two others move around and it’s all a bit of a merry-go-round.”

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Ryman North, AFC Sudbury face a 9.15am pitch inspection tomorrow morning ahead of the visit of 20th-placed Barkingside.

Witham Town will also be looking to use home advantage to full use as they attempt to strengthen their grip in the race for promotion with a win over Cheshunt.

Essex neighbours Maldon & Tiptree are on their travels as they face basement side Ware looking to build on their impressive end to 2013.

Like AFC Sudbury, Heybridge Swifts also face an early morning pitch inspection as they travel to Redbridge, with new signing Guy expected to be named in manager Jody Brown’s squad for today’s game.