ROD Brown has admitted the players let themselves down after Monday’s 5-0 defeat to in-form leaders Tividale as Swifts suffered mixed results over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The Walshes Meadow outfit had made a strong start on Saturday as they beat Quorn 3-0 thanks to a brace from John Griffin and Jamie Willetts.

But they were stunned on Monday as Tivi blew them away thanks to a Stuart How hat-trick and strikes from Sam Williams and Ryan Winwood.

Brown said: “We put everything into Saturday’s win over Quorn.

“But we’ve had five players who didn’t have a proper pre-season and there was nothing left in the tank for Monday.

“What I am disappointed most about was that collectively we did not work hard enough.

“Only Kevin Spencer, Jamie Willetts, Haydn Whitcomb and Jordan Anderson got six out of 10 and everyone else was below that.

“We met a Tividale side who have had a great pre-season and had a brilliant day. Sometimes you’ve got to hold your hands up when you get a beating like that.

“We’re four or five weeks behind everyone else in terms of fitness but the squad is stronger than last season.”

Brown is hoping to add one or two new players to freshen up his squad and they are keen to bring in Paul Lloyd from Stourbridge for a few games to help him get fit.

Stourport now face a tough test in the preliminary round of the FA Cup at home to Midland Alliance newcomers AFC Wulfrunians (3pm ko), who are unbeaten and in third place.

“Wulfs are a young fit side and I might have to change my tactics to fit them,” added Brown.