Stourport Swifts swept aside hosts Gloucester City 2-1 to maintain their impressive run of form which has seen them climb clear of the Dr Martens Western Division relegation zone.

Swifts have lost just once in their last six matches and a mid-table finish now looks highly likely.

Richard Ball may have been Stourport's two-goal hero but it was far from one-way traffic and giant defender Dave Davies provided stubborn resistance against a Gloucester side looking for a repeat of their six-goal rout of Evesham United in midweek.

Visiting keeper John Danby was the busier of the two keepers before the break, keeping out two free-kicks from Gloucester's Will Steadman.

But Swifts battled back and took the lead on 58 minutes when good work from Andy Wright saw him weave past two defenders before hoisting the ball over City 'keeper Matt Bath for strike partner Ball to head into the unguarded net.

A clash of heads left Wright and Gloucester's Neil Griffiths needing treatment before John Shirley went close to adding a second for the visitors with a fierce 20-yard shot that flew just over the crossbar.

Tempers had threatened to boil over throughout the game but matters hotted up 15 minutes from time when Gloucester player-manager Chris Burns was sent off after throwing a punch at Simon Marsh. The Tigers boss had only been on the field eight minutes.

Gloucester drew level on 84 minutes. Lee Smith was sent sprawling inside the area by Steve Ulfig and Andy Hoskins drilled home the resulting penalty.

But Swifts hit back and bagged a winner three minutes from time when Bath failed to connect a cross and Ball was on hand to turn the ball home.

Swifts: Danby 8, Webb 8, Ulfig 8, Newall 8, H DAVIES 9, Harris 8, Blake 8 (Nicholls 83), Marsh 8, Ball 8, A Wright 8 (Willetts 8), Shirley 8. Subs (not used): S Wright, Hawkes, Titterton.

Attendance: 309.