STOURPORT come face-to-face with Cinderford Town for the first time this season when the pair meet in Southern Football League Division One West at Walshes Mea-dow on Saturday.

And Swifts will be hoping for a return to winning ways after last weekend's miserable 1-0 defeat at the hands of Ashford Town.

While Cinderford's form, together with Stourport's, has been indifferent of late, the same cannot be said of Ashford who posted their seventh straight league victory in their defeat of Swifts.

Anthony Eggington, a match-winner when the sides met in Worcestershire earlier in the season, was again the difference between the sides, notching the game's only goal and also proving a constant menace for the visiting defence.

Ashford almost bagged a second minute lead when Eggington got on the end of Darren Deegan's free-kick but steered his header narrowly wide of the upright.

Solid defending and some good work in midfield by Paul Lloyd and Dan Bragoli limited the home side's chances with the blustery conditions hindering both teams. Swifts thought they should have had a penalty on 15 minutes when Duncan Willetts appeared to be fouled inside the area but the referee waved play on.

The lively Richard Burgess forced a good save from home keeper Paul Burgess midway through the half and there was another close call for the home side just before the break when Willetts almost pounced on a weak back pass.

The ball was cleared for a corner and from the resulting flag kick, a spectacular overhead effort from Burgess flashed just wide.

The breakthrough finally came on 51 minutes when Russell Cinderton headed a corner goalwards and although the effort was blocked, Eggington steered his headed beyond keeper Aaron O'Malley at the far post. The Middlesex side went close again when Scott Harris broke through late on only to be denied by Andy Jones who cleared off the line.

It was another disappointing result for Dave Titterton's men who have slid down the table after a sequence of just two wins, a draw and seven defeats from their last 10 games.

And Swifts will be hoping their re-arranged match with struggling Cinderford this weekend will give them a much-needed fillip.

SWIFTS: O'Malley 6, M Jones 6, Green 6, A Jones 7, Webb 6, Lloyd 6, Checketts 6 (Titterton 87), Bragoli 7, BURGESS 7, Willetts 6, Mason 6 (Crisp 67, 6). Sub (not used): Atkinson.