Needham Market manager Richard Wilkins admits to being left frustrated in his hunt for a striker.

The Bloomfields boss is still without John Sands (injured), while Luke Ingram (suspended) misses the trip to Folkestone tomorrow.

Wilkins had hoped to tie up a deal with a player last night, but it has come to nothing.

“I think I have made more phone calls in the past month, than I have done in complete seasons in the past,” Wilkins said.

“It’s frustrating because we could do with another striker. But I’ve tried pro clubs, Conference clubs, even clubs below us in the pyramid.

“I’m not paying silly money just for the sake of it either. Still, it is what it is, we’ll crack on.”

Wilkins admits to being reasonably satisfied to the start the Marketmen have made to their Bostick Premier season, despite last Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Wingate & Finchley.

“It was a bit of a damp squip of a performance against Wingate, which is a shame,” he said.

“Almost everyone was off it, a few defenders were ok, but it was one of those days. A striker ran left and the pass went right, that sort of thing. I’ve been in the game long enough to know it happens.

“Against Burgess Hill on the opening day a draw was a good result and a fair result and our win over Thurrock probably flattered them.

“We are still missing John Sands and Jamie Griffiths with injury, while Luke Ingram is suspended this Saturday. He will be back on Monday.”

Tomorrow, Needham make the long trek to Kent to play a Folkestone side they beat 1-0 at Cheriton Road last season after a truncated journey that took nearly five hours because of a bridge collapse on the motorway.

“Folkestone is never an easy place to go, but we won last year, although I think the fact we arrived so late and kicked of about 5pm, rather messed them up more than us,” Wilkins said.

“With players still out it gives me the opportunity to perhaps change the system.

“With Brightlingsea on the Monday as well, two games in three days is never easy. I just hope we have enough left in the tank for Monday. We should have, and we will have Ingram back as well.”

It’s been more solid than spectacular for Needham so far, but they have points on the board and Wilkins knows it is early days.

“There are no gimmes in this league, we all know that,” Wilkins said.

“If we can pick four points out of these next two games over the Bank Holiday, that will be a good result.”