FORMER boss Rod Brown and hot-shot Lee Booth return to Walshes Meadow on New Year's Day with Redditch United.

Booth linked up with Brown again late last week after the top scorer quit Stourport Swifts for their Dr Martens Western Division rivals.

Brown and assistant Gary Whild swapped Swifts for Reds last month before being joined by Brendan Hackett.

Now Swifts boss Tim Langford is short of strikers for the busy holiday programme and January's FA Trophy visit to Chester City.

The versatile Simon Marsh is nursing a hamstring injury, while Jamie Hart has left the club.

Langford and Kerry Giddings are the only real options and both scored in Saturday's excellent 2-1 home win over fellow high-fliers Clevedon Town.

Swifts, who travel to promotion-chasing Chippenham on Saturday, were not in any danger until the final nervous minutes.

Langford rolled back the years and created most of the best moments along with one of his younger charges Alex Cowley.

The pair combined after just four minutes when Langford powered a shot just wide.

But the former professional made the breakthrough on 13 minutes, volleying past keeper Dave Mogg from a Lea Shaw pass.

Langford and Giddings both went close to scoring before Cowley crossed for Asa Charlton to divert the ball inches wide.

Clevedon's Dave Morrisey was denied by keeper Rob Clarke's out-stretched leg as the visitors fought back.

The second half saw in-control Swifts win a penalty on 51 minutes.

Shaw's ball forward was headed down by Giddings to Langford who glided through only to be tripped by Oliver Price who was only yellow carded.

But Charlton blasted the spot-kick so high over that it brought cheers from the rugby players on the adjacent pitch.

Swifts had to wait just three more minutes to remedy the miss though.

A high ball caused chaos in the Clevedon area and, with the keeper and defenders motionless, Giddings nipped in to place the ball past Mogg.

The West Country side were thrown a lifeline on 78 minutes when Mike Wyatt collected a long clearance before firing past Clarke.

Swifts survived a late onslaught, including an 87th minute penalty appeal after sub Gary Smart appeared to be fouled in the area.

Swifts: Clarke 7, Mulders 7, Ulfig 8, Southwick 7, Davies 7, Shaw 8, Cowley 8, A Nicholls 8, Giddings 8, Langford 9 (T Nicholls 84), Charlton 7. Subs (not used): Marsh, Dearlove.

STAR MAN: Tim Langford.

Fixtures, Saturday: Chippenham v Swifts (3pm). New Year's Day: Swifts v Redditch (3pm).