TIM Langford must know how Old Mother Hubbard felt when she looked at her cupboard to find nothing but bare shelves.

The beleaguered Stourport boss will feel similarly deprived after Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Dr Martens Western Division strugglers Swindon Supermarine as he ponders what has become of his depleted squad.

Hamstrung by injuries, suspensions and the no-show of midfielder Matt Beard, it was credit to Langford's diligence that Stourport were able to field a side at all.

Debutants Richard Crisp and Steve Ingram, in the autumn of their careers, stepped in.

"I was ringing around on Thursday night just trying to get players to come in and sign a form.

"We came to Swindon with players who had only played here and there like myself and Nigel Laker. Others had not played at all this season.

"We were up against it when our captain Dave Davies had to go off after the first 20 minutes and we had to put Richard Crisp on who has not played this season. It is obviously difficult," mused Langford.

The dressing room introductions seemed to have worked as the visitors went ahead after just 33 seconds.

The tireless Kerry Giddings capitalised on hesitancy in the Swindon rearguard to smash inside the near post from eight yards.

But rock-bottom Swindon hauled themselves level in the sixth minute as unmarked striker Adam Giles stooped to head in Tom Jones' cross.

On the hour, the hosts took the lead as Giles knocked down for skipper Steve Bennett to turn in from close range.

Then, as Stourport strove for an equaliser, a defensive slip let in Supermarine sub Jason Cornfield to score on his home debut.

SWIFTS: Clarke 6, S Wright 6, Davies (Crisp 15, 6), Laker 6, Ingram 5 (Sandhu 90), A Nicholls 5, Marsh 6, Langford 5 (Edwards 72), T NICHOLLS 7, Giddings 6, A Wright 5.

ATTENDANCE: 93.

STAR MAN: Tim Nicholls.