STOURPORT'S winning start to the Dr Martens League Western Division season came to an abrupt end with back-to-back Bank Holiday defeats.

A disappointing display in the West Country saw Swifts beaten 2-0 by Clevedon Town and a late winner gave Worcestershire neighbours Evesham United a 3-2 victory on Monday.

The results mean Swifts have slipped off the pace at the top of the table and must now lift themselves ahead of Saturday's tricky FA Cup clash with Rugby United at Walshes Meadow.

Evesham opened the scoring in the derby clash when Mark Wolsey pounced on a defensive error to lift the ball over advancing Swifts keeper Rob Clarke.

Steve Lutz headed a second on 27 minutes, converting a fine Andy Smith cross as manager Phil Mullen looked to make it a happy return to the Stourport side he once managed.

But the home side were thrown a lifeline four minutes from the break when defender Richard Clark turned the ball into his own net from a Simon Marsh cross.

The impressive Alex Cowley capped a fine display with the goal of the game to level the scores on the hour.

Swifts had started the second half the brighter and gained their just rewards when Cowley collected the ball near half-way and ran through before steering his shot wide of former Kidderminster keeper Darren Steadman.

It looked as though the honours would be shared until Evesham substitute Stuart Payne latched onto a ball over the home defence before placing his shot past Clarke with seven minutes to go.

Boss Rod Brown said: "I gave the players a real roasting at half-time and we dominated the second half.

"I was disappointed to lose when we gave away a sloppy goal after working so hard to get ourselves back into the game."

Swifts: Clarke 6, Charlton 6 (Dunn 70, 7), Ulfig 7, Townsend 7, D Davies 8, Shaw 7, COWLEY 9, Nicholls 6 (Hackett 75), Langford 7, Booth 7 (Knight 75), Marsh 8. STAR MAN: Alex Cowley.

At Clevedon, a goal in each half ensured Swifts returned home empty handed with the home side having three other efforts disallowed.

Mark Badman scrambled the opener on 17 minutes after the Stourport defence failed to clear a corner with Karl Bayliss hammering in a second on 55 minutes.

Marsh, Asa Charlton and Lee Booth missed chances for the visitors, while keeper Clarke had to make a number of good saves.

But Brown admitted: "Clevedon were exceptionally good and it should have been four or five."

SWIFTS: Clarke 5, Knight 5 (Langford 69, 5), Ulfig 6 (D Davies 69, 6), Townsend 7, Mulders 6, Shaw 6, Cowley 6, Nicholls 5, Marsh 5, Booth 5, Charlton (Dunn 66, 6) 6. STAR MAN: Quentin Townsend. ATTENDANCE: 208.