TIVIDALE manager Ian Long says his players must find their ruthless streak if they are going to return to form.

Toothless Tivi had to settle for a draw against strugglers Rainworth Miners' Welfare last Saturday after another below-par showing at The Beeches.

The stalemate followed the previous weekend's away defeat at Goole and highlighted how far confidence levels have dropped in recent weeks.

Long has called on his players to do more and pinpointed the need to bag the first goal in games at this level.

"We must be better on the ball and get better quality into our forwards. In turn, they also need to do more with what they have to work with," he said.

"We must play with a higher tempo and make sure we take our chances. Too often we are going behind in games and finding it hard to come back.

"Scoring first is massive in this league and we are making it hard for ourselves by not getting our noses in front."

Tividale endured a frustrating afternoon in front of goal against Rainworth.

The dogged visitors battled hard to stay in the contest but Ian Long's men will feel they missed a prime opportunity to get back to winning ways.

Their first real chance came on 12 minutes when the lively Chris Field fired into the side netting after Leigh Downing had robbed the defender in the box before crossing to the wide man.

Field then spurned another chance five minutes later when he blasted over from inside the area after good build up on the break between David Bellis and Zac Foster.

At that stage it was all Tivi as home keeper Charlie Price watched on without a save to make.

However, if it was Tivi that bossed things at the start of the first half, it was Rainworth that took control in the opening stages of the second.

They grew as the game went on before punishing Tividale for their lack of killer instinct in the 52nd minute.

The goal came all too easily as keeper Reay lumped a long ball up the pitch that was flicked on by Darren Mansarem to strike partner Romaine Graham. He had the easiest of tasks to lift the ball over the advancing Price to give the visitors a lead with their first real opportunity of the match.

Rainworth carved out a few more half chances before Tivi finally began to get back on top.

Jordan Archer missed a difficult chance at the near post on 63 minutes after he had fed Foster on the left before going for the low return ball into the six yard box.

Captain Richard Huckfield did bundle the ball home from close range five minutes later after a danger free kick was whipped in from Foster, but the referee had already blown for a foul on Reay as he came to collect the ball.

Manager Long threw on wingers Shaquille Leachman-Wittingham and Jamie King as he chased an equaliser and both made a telling impact.

The home side finally got the leveller they deserved on 84 minutes.

Good play on the right by Leachman-Wittingham saw his cross only half cleared as far as Bellis on the edge of the box. He hit a wayward effort that was then cleverly deflected on target by the head of Sam Williams to wrong foot a stranded Reay.

"We were lacklustre against Rainworth and seemed complacent at times," added Long. "Confidence looked a little low, but I don't know why that would be because we have been on a great run of form before these last few games.

"They players know they must give more and there are some positives in the way we reacted to going behind on Saturday."

Tivi were set to take on Goole at home last night before travelling to Brigg Town this Saturday.

Long admitted that both King and Leachman-Wittingham are pushing hard for a starting role.