STUBBORN Stourport Swifts slipped to another defeat at second placed Alvechurch who snapped up a late 1-0 win, writes Nick Pullen.

Swifts were undone by a 79th minute Mike Wardle winner which enables Alvechurch to keep the pressure on league leaders Hereford who they meet this Saturday.

But Swifts boss Mark Phillips was heartened by the manner in which Swifts kept Alvechurch at bay until the closing stages and said: "Alvechurch were highly relieved to score and I was really pleased with the level of our performance.

"We played well the previous week at third placed Heanor Town and should have got at least a point from that game, if not win it, because we didn't deserve to lose and the manner of that performance continued at Alvechurch.

"I told the players beforehand we would have to be competitive against Alvechurch, but we didn't intend to sit back.

"Alvechurch were on the frontfoot for two thirds of the game, if not more and we really had to dig in at times as they had Jordan Nadat and Connor Beards up front, who were a real handful all afternoon.

"The plan was always to push forward in the last 10 minutes, but that went up in smoke when Alvechurch scored.

"I was annoyed with the result, but not the performance.

"However, we need to start winning games again. We've slipped to below half way in the Midland League table and I don't want to see us get sucked down any further!

Swifts have another tough test on their hands this Saturday when they host Highgate United at Walshes Meadow where Swifts are likely to continue without striker James Hill who is struggling to shake-off a knee injury he sustained at Heanor Town.