BERNARD MORLEY says that greater consistency from attacking duo Akwasi Asante and Anthony Dudley will be pivotal to their promotion hopes this season.

Both players impressed in Wednesday’s 4-0 demolition of Southport, Akwasi bagging a second half brace and Dudley firing home with a superb half-volley for the hosts’ third.

Joint-manager Morley praised the performances of both players and revealed that top-scorer Asante had been challenged about his recent form following the dour 1-0 home defeat to Curzon Ashton.

Discussing the Blues’ 16-goal striker after the Southport game, he said: “Akwasi has come in for some criticism from Johnno (Anthony Johnson) and myself.

“He’s used to scoring one in two, whereas recently he’s had five or six chances and not been scoring. So, we’ve had a conversation with him. We didn’t blame him for the result against Curzon, but we basically said ‘you get paid to score and you’ve not done that over the last couple of games’. But he’s got back at it and what a reaction it was from him.”

More has also been demanded of Dudley, who has now bagged four goals this term but has been peripheral in games at times.

“Anthony Dudley is one of those players who really frustrates you, because you know he’s got it in his locker, but it’s just about finding that consistency,” said Morely. “He’ll do it in one game then he’ll have two off and then he’ll do it in another game which is frustrating when we come to pick the side.

“If we have consistency throughout the team then we’re going to be up there challenging in first, second or third, whatever it might be. We’re not as consistent as we should be and that’s the reason we’re not at the top right now.”

Currently third in the National League North table, Chester head to eighth-placed Guiseley tomorrow.

With former Blues boss Marcus Bignot at the helm, the West Yorkshire club have emerged as play-off contenders and head into the game buoyed by successive away wins over York City and Farsley Celtic.

Morley insists Chester’s players can take confidence from their latest victory, but knows his side must now string together a winning sequence.

He added: “We shouldn’t fear anybody. We know collectively that we’re as good as anybody in the league on our day. That’s not me being biased - that’s what a lot of rival managers tell us and that’s what spectators say. But it’s about finding that consistency of putting three wins together now.”

Both Danny Livesey and George Glendon could return for Chester after missing out with minor hamstring injuries against Southport.