The hunt for a senior striker goes on for Bath City but manager Adie Britton believes he has unearthed a goal-den gem for the future in Jamie Taylor.

The 18-year-old from Southdown has impressed Britton during City's pre-season campaign and will be signed on a contract, along with fellow youngster Ashley Caldwell.

However, the City boss considers them long-term signings and says his main priority remains bringing in a recognised goalscorer for the 2009-10 Blue Square South season, which kicks off in just over a fortnight's time.

"All of our time is spent looking at attacking players," admitted Britton, whose team play old rivals Chippenham Town for the Coronation Cup on Sunday (3pm).

"We have a few in our sights but there is a real scarcity of strikers in the South West. You can see that when Cheltenham Town are signing the likes of [36-year-old] Julian Alsop.

"Agents have contacted us about players from the London area but it is not practical for them to be travelling such long distances. We have a couple of players already who have to come 80 miles for home games and that's probably far enough.

"I have said it is just a matter of being patient. We could easily have signed someone by now but would it have been the right player? It is so important, given our budget, that we get this correct."

One striker who could force his way into Britton's plans in the coming months is Taylor, who has been training with City following his release from Swindon Town due to financial cutbacks at the end of last season.

He played in last Friday's 2-0 win at Swindon Supermarine – fellow trialist Jack Allward and Stuart Douglas got the goals – but Britton believes Taylor and midfielder Caldwell are not quite ready for Conference football.

"We will sign Jamie and Ashley on contracts and send them out to other clubs to gain some experience," the City boss said.

"They have both done really well in pre-season but they are in that development stage of their careers and it is difficult for us to give them sufficient games without a reserve team.

"It is a massive step up from youth football to men's football. Youth games are almost non-contact, they get the ball and play, but it is very physical in the Conference and Southern Leagues, a real culture shock.

"But I don't think Jamie and Ashley are far away, we have been really pleased with both of them. Ashley has really improved since he first came here 12 months ago.

"People have said Jamie missed opportunities in the friendlies but I would point to the fact that he is getting plenty of opportunities for a lad of his age. It won't be long before he is turning them into goals."

Britton is due to have another look at left-back Allward and winger Aaron Cornwall in tonight's match against a Bristol Rovers XI, with both also likely to face Chippenham on Sunday.

The match, which kicks off at 3pm at Twerton Park, has been given added significance as the winners will be presented with the historic Coronation Cup.

The trophy was given to City in 1937 by Mr AE Rickards, president of the Bloomfield Bowling Club, to be competed for annually by two First Division clubs.

The first match was between Arsenal and Portsmouth in front of 11,000 spectators at Twerton Park on Monday, April 19, 1937.

City played an Arsenal XI for the cup in 1962 and more recently faced Trowbridge Town but it is a number of years since the trophy – sponsored by the Bizarre Bath Comedy Walk – was last played for.

Sunday's game will be decided on penalties if there is no winner after 90 minutes.