THE KILLER instinct is what Crewe FC boss Ian O'Reilly is hoping to instil in his side during the new year.

He feels it's the only factor preventing the club from competing with the front runners in Division One of the Mid Cheshire League.

Weather ruled out last Saturday's match against Grove United and a 2-0 defeat at Barnton was the club's only festive fixture in which the problem arose again.

It was tough luck for Scott Edwards as he could do nothing about his deflected own-goal after just three minutes but Crewe should have recovered through several openings during a dominant first half.

Andy Lock was only denied by a fantastic save in a more evenly matched second-half but the home side wrapped it up through a counter in the dying minutes.

"I keep telling the lads they go so close and yet end up so far away," said O'Reilly.

"We definitely deserved something from the game. We are not killing teams off when we should be doing and then paying for it through the counter attack."

O'Reilly has drafted in former Newcastle Town and Stone Dominoes left-sided midfielder John Mansell ahead of this Saturday's tough Cheshire Cup clash at home to Stalk FC.

Weather permitting, kick-off at the Cumberland Sports Ground is at 2pm.