GRAHAM Turner is urging his Hereford United side to display a tougher streak to bolster their chances of making the Nationwide Conference play-offs.

The Bulls just missed out on one of the prized play-off slots last season and Turner believes their failure to win enough tight encounters ultimately cost them.

However the Edgar Street manager is confident in the ability of the squad he has assembled for another tilt at winning promotion to the Football League. "We've got enough quality in the squad but there are two things we need to add on the pitch which we didn't have last year," he said.

"The first was that we didn't win enough of those scrappy type encounters which you need to be successful. Secondly we didn't score enough goals.

"Steve Guinan got 15 but alongside him John Grant was the next forward and he got only four. We need to be getting 30 to 40 goals from our two strikers and hopefully with David Brown and Daniel Carey-Bertram on board we can achieve that."

Turner has once again continued his emphasis on bringing in young players with Ryan Green just 22, Brown, 24, and Carey-Bertram 19.

Guinan and Jamie Pitman are considered old heads at 27 but Turner remains confident youth can bring Hereford success.

"What the side, perhaps, lacks in age, we more than make up for it in terms of energy and fitness," he said. "And actually, there is plenty of experience in Brown, who started his career at Manchester United, Andy Tretton, Guinan, Tony James, Ben Smith and Pitman. Like most small clubs, finances are always tight but we quietly think wee have a good chance of being up there and don't want to lose anyone at this stage."

Carey-Bertram emerged as the sprint king after the squad underwent fitness tests at the University of Gloucestershire. The striker was fastest over 10 and 30 metres, while Rob Purdie, who was second fastest, had the most impressive endurance readings.