Ambitious Wealdstone boss Gordon Bartlett has demanded more passion and graft from his side following Saturday's defeat to lowly Welling.

Elliott Godfrey put through his own net late on for the only goal of the game, ensuring it was three defeats out of the last four in National League South for the Stones.

Despite this, they are still ninth in the table, but unless their league form turns around, Bartlett sees his aim on the fringes of the promotion shake up at Christmas slipping away.

He said: “We've got to get our league season on the right track again – we had a good start but we've dropped right off. I want us to be in the top 10 around Christmas, then see where we can go from there.

Return: Billy Gibson

“But I'm concerned by the manner of performances. They say if the performances are there, results will follow, but at the present, the performances are not there either. The desire and determination needs to be increased.”

In a bid to turn things around, Bartlett has been busy in the transfer market – bringing in defender Liam Gould on loan from Accrington Stanley, along with former Stones loanee Billy Gibson from St Albans and ex-Dulwich Hamlet winger Terence Carter from the United States.

He said: “Me and Scotty (McGleish) have been going around the pro clubs for a few weeks now trying to strengthen the side as we are trying to put things right. We believed it was a good enough squad at the start of the season, but it's been underachieving.

“Whereas Billy will probably start off playing in our county cup games, Liam will be a key player for us, having brought him all the way down from Accrington. Wes Parker has not been 100 per cent at centre back, and Josh Urquhart likewise, so it allows one of them a rest.”