Neil Shipperley fears Walton Casuals’ lack of a clinical streak could end up costing his side an unlikely play-off spot as the Stags continue to battle the odds in Ryman Division One South.

A win and a loss over the New Year period left Walton in 7th spot as 2011 begins in earnest, jostled out of 5th only by virtue of goal difference.

And Shipperley has called on his strike force to up their output.

He said: “With Danny Buckle and Charlie Ide we have two good strikers, but if you look at the number of goals we score against the number of chances we create it is not quite good enough.

“We are definitely still missing that cutting edge.

“Against Fleet on Saturday (Casuals won 2-1) we should have had the game sewn up very early, not need a late goal to win it.

“The final third of the pitch is still a big worry for me.

“I am realistic though and I am not going to get overly disappointed as we have come a very long way in a short period of time.

“But if we can raise the standard a bit we still have possibilities.”

Mark Nicholls and Ide grabbed the Saturday goals, before Walton drew a blank in Monday’s 2-0 loss at high-fliers Bognor Regis.

And with clashes against play-off hopefuls Worthing and Sittingbourne up next, the Casuals boss has called for fresh impetus.

Shipperley added: “We are where we are on merit, it is not a false position.

“The next couple of games give us a massive opportunity to strengthen that position.

“We are half way through the season now and there are plenty of points still up for grabs and there is absolutely no reason why we cannot have a really good go at it.”

Walton Casuals’ next three matches: Jan 8 Worthing (a), 10 Sittingbourne (h), 15 Burgess Hill (h)