MANAGER Mark Phillips expects Stourport Swifts to face a tougher test against rejuvenated Shawbury United in Saturday's battle of the strugglers in Shropshire (3pm).

The Midland League Premier Division clash pits the two sides perched just above the relegation zone against one another three-and-a-half months after Swifts won the reverse fixture 3-1.

But since losing their opening five fixtures following promotion from the West Midlands League, United's form has improved with a 5-2 win at Walsall Wood standing out in recent weeks.

"We beat them at our place but there was not a lot in the game," said Phillips. "It wasn't like we battered them and they have had a couple of good results recently.

"They lost at Lye but will still be on a high after picking up a bit so it will be a tough game. I have been involved for a couple of years now and there are no games where you can take your foot off the pedal at all and we will have to be at our best to get a result."

Phillips will be hoping for the kind of performance that saw 10-man Stourport fight back from two down to claim a 2-2 draw against AFC Wulfrunians last weekend.

Demetri Brown netted for the visitors after eight minutes and Swifts' task was made all the more difficult when Sam Beasley saw red for a dangerous tackle with less than half an hour played.

Kyle Brady’s goal doubled the deficit seven minutes before the interval but Matthew Fulloway crashed home a far-post header from Joe Robinson’s whipped free-kick just after the break.

It was all Stourport from there but it took another tantalising Robinson delivery to pinch a share of the spoils with Alex Parry on target two minutes from time.

"We had been the better side in my view and certainly didn't deserve to be two down," said Phillips.

"We had to change the shape but were all over them with 10 men. They were moving around their players left, right and centre to try to cope and we managed to equalise late on.

"It was a really good performance. We could have won, more so with the chances we had before we equalised, but I was pleased to get the point because while we had been the better side, you still fear they might turn the screw with an extra man."

A much-changed Swifts side lost 3-1 at Highgate in the Worcestershire Senior Urn on Tuesday with Robinson on target.

"We brought in a few players who had not had much game time," said Phillips.

"They probably shaded the first half and went in one up, we lacked a bit of intensity but we were better in the first half and were on top once we had equalised.

"We had the ball in their half and played it backwards and ended up playing a backpass that fell short.

"It was bizarre and we gave away the goal, we didn't create much but as we pushed late on they scored on the break."