PHIL Hucker has insisted that his Bridgwater Town side “just need a goal to get them going” after the Robins went down to another battling defeat on Saturday, writes Paul Martin.

Town have scored just once in six matches since the turn of the year and are the division’s lowest scorers overall, with this weekend’s 2-0 reverse at Tiverton Town the latest occasion on which Bridgwater have drawn a blank.

Like last weekend’s narrow defeat at home to Winchester, however, Hucker felt there were plenty of positives to take from the performance of his young side.

“They scored early on and we could have capitulated, but the resolve of the lads pulled them through,” he said.

“After the goal we controlled the rest of the first half, hitting the bar and having another one cleared off the line.

“We just need a goal to get our confidence up. We’re looking solid at the back and creating chances, so if we can just get an early goal that will get us going.”

As if to emphasise the difference in striking options available to the two teams, it was a brace from Levi Landricombe which settled the game – two goals that took the Tiverton man past 30 for the season.

“We are playing against teams with bigger budgets, but that said we want to challenge ourselves against the best and playing against the likes of Landricombe means you are certainly doing that,” Hucker said.

Bridgwater Mercury:

CONTROL: Town's Elliot Ripley in action at Ladysmead.

Town handed a debut to former Weston-super-Mare man Jake Llewellyn at Ladysmead, with the left-sided player set to add quality to the Robins having previously played at Conference South level for Weston.

The manager is hoping that Llewellyn will not be the only addition to his squad before March’s transfer deadline.

“I’d like to bring in one or two to add experience, but I don’t want that to detract from bringing through youngsters,” Hucker confirmed.

After a tough run of fixtures, this coming Saturday perhaps represents a more realistic chance for Town to pick up a result as they host Shortwood United, who have lost four on the bounce.

Looking ahead to the match, Hucker said: “There are no easy games in this league, but if we can take what we did well on Saturday into this one then we have certainly got a decent chance.”

Craig Laird and Jordan Lovibond both began their three-match suspensions on Saturday having been sent off against Larkhall Athletic, with the duo again unavailable for selection against Shortwood (ko 3pm).

Town travel to Weston-super-Mare for a friendly tonight, which will give Hucker the chance to experiment further with his squad.