Skipper Stuart Whitehead has urged AFC Telford United to mark the new year by discovering a much-needed killer instinct.

Telford enter 2010 lying ninth in the Blue Square North, having seen their scheduled New Year’s Day fixture at Stafford Rangers postponed due to a frozen pitch.

The Bucks captain has been disappointed by the way they have regularly followed good results with bad ones in the campaign to date, and admits time is running out to get it right.

The pattern continued over the festive period, as they won 2-1 at home to Stafford on Boxing Day but then lost 2-0 at Hinckley two days later.

“It’s so frustrating the way the season is going at the moment,” he said.

“We win a few and look like we’re doing well and then we let ourselves down again.

“But how long can we keep saying we’re close? Christmas has gone now, it’s not the beginning of the season.

“We’ve got the quality and we’re creating the chances but, for one reason or another, we’re just not having the composure in front of goal and we’re not killing teams off.

“We’ve got to start doing that – last season we were getting it right.

“I don’t think we’re playing particularly different this time, but we’re not taking our chances when we get them. It’s a collective responsibility and we all have to improve.”

l Telford are not in action again until they entertain Vauxhall Motors on Tuesday next week, but the New Bucks Head does play host to Wolves Reserves tomorrow evening (7pm).

West Ham United’s second string are the visitors for the Barclays Premier Reserve League South clash. Admission will be £4 for adults, £1 for concessions and free for Wolves season ticket holders.

Wolves go into the game bottom of the nine-team league, having won just once in eight outings.