BOSS Adie Arnold has called for Christchurch to summon their nasty streak and stem the alarming flow of goals conceded this season.

Summer appointment Arnold’s patience has been tested by Priory’s porous backline which has shipped an average of three goals per game in the club’s 11 league and cup contests so far.

The Hurn Bridge manager stepped up his pursuit of defensive recruits with seven-day approaches for two unnamed players over the weekend but Arnold argued that all his players must carry the can.

Arnold told the Daily Echo: “We lack a dominant centre-half and that has cost us from set-pieces but we have to be better in our defensive duties in every area of the pitch. We’re too nice as a group.

"There is a fine line and I don’t want to manage a bunch of thugs who go round kicking lumps out of people but we need lads who are prepared to put their head in where it hurts and ruffle a few feathers.

“The really frustrating thing is that going forward we’re not a bad side but that doesn’t get you anywhere when you’re shipping three goals per game.

“We’re taking steps to sacrifice some of the free-flowing football to improve things defensively but you can only do so much, some of it has to come from within the players.

“I have had a look at it and with nine games gone everybody has been given a fair crack of the whip. We have submitted a couple of seven-day approaches but we also need people to dig in and fight all over the park.”

Brad Hill, Marcus Cullen and Nathan Saxby return as Christchurch host Folland Sports tomorrow (7.45pm).

Priory: (from) Roast, Harris, Clark, Dodd, Steer, Owen, Smith, Saxby, Hampton-Brown, Vining, Lovell, Speers, Moran, Proudley, Hill, Cullen, Fawcett.