ASSISTANT boss Matt Clarke has ordered his Halesowen Town players to find their ruthless streak when they meet Nantwich Town this Saturday.

Third-from-bottom Yeltz will leapfrog their visitors if able to pick up a much-needed success at the Grove (3pm kick-off).

Hales lost 3-1 to second-placed Grantham last weekend but Clarke believes the signs were all there to suggest goals could be on the horizon.

He said: "I felt that for the first 30 minutes against Grantham we did really well and were probably the better team for a while.

"We have created a number of chances but just didn't take them.

"Grantham took their chances and we were quickly behind. We've huffed and puffed, had a go and pulled one back but it just wasn't enough.

"We've probably created more chances in that game than we have for a while, which is the positive.

"If we can create anywhere near the chances against Nantwich that we did against Grantham then I'd expect us to win the game."

Clarke knows just how important the clash could prove to be for their fight against relegation this season.

He added: "It's a huge game for us, like so many are at this level, but we have to be better in both boxes.

"We need to become harder to beat because it's been too easy to score against us. We seem to win one then draw or win one and lose a couple, so we need to put some results together too."

The Grantham clash saw new arrival Kevin Monteiro make his debut after the creative midfielder arrived from Redditch United.

"He's a very exciting player," added Clarke. "The fans haven't had much to get excited about but he certainly is one of them.

"He has a lot of potential still and he will help us a lot in that final third."

One player they will be without this Saturday is striker Khaellem Bailey-Nicholls, who has returned to Bedworth after his short stint at the Grove didn't work out.

Skipper Danny Bragoli remains sidelined with the knee injury he picked up in the friendly with Bromsgrove Sporting before Christmas.

The assistant boss said he was left frustrated this week after he and manager John Hill missed out on a couple of targets to boost their options further.

"We have missed out on a couple of targets this week but we'll keep working at it. We are always trying to improve," he said.