BEWDLEY Town are bracing themselves for a tough month in the West Midlands League division one promotion race after getting a rare defeat out of their systems.

Boss Craig Payton put Tuesday's 2-1 home reverse to Hinton down to his title-chasers losing their sharpness over the Christmas break.

And the Ribbesford Meadow gaffer is backing his second-placed side to bounce back by cranking up the pressure on leaders Great Wyrley, who they trail by eight points, but with two games in hand.

Bewdley, whose scheduled game against Bridgnorth was frozen off last week, got off to a solid start against Hinton and took the lead after half an hour.

Good work from Tom Stewart down the left saw him work the ball to Neil Turford who let fly with a terrific strike from 25 yards which gave the keeper no chance.

In a scrappy game, Hinton equalised five minutes later and capitalised on a defensive mistake to grab all three points midway through the second half.

Payton said: "Our head coach Brian Lacey has got the lads super fit but because we've had a break for a couple of weeks they weren't as sharp as we have been.

"We normally wear teams down late in games but fair play to Hinton they stuck to their guns and we couldn't find a way past them.

"It's our first defeat in 12 and I'm sure it's just a one off but we've got some difficult away games coming up and are at home to Great Wyrley at the end of January so it's a tough month."

Bewdley travel to mid-table Wyrley Rangers on Saturday, kick-off 1.45pm. Players to meet at the Wagon and Horses at noon.