STOURPORT Swifts' first visit to Gloucester City's Meadow Park ground ended in a Dr Martens League Western Division defeat.

The home side took the points with a 2-0 victory but Swifts stay fifth in the table despite wins for Gresley Rovers and Clevedon Town.

Tim Langford's side were blown off course by a gale-force wind but the defeat had more to do with two below-par performances - their own and that of the referee.

Langford said: "The referee was as bad as we were. I thought he was poor today, consistent in his inconsistency.

"In the first half we worked ever so hard against the elements but in the second we did not have sufficient quality or effort.

"In the last eight weeks we have put everything into going up the league and that has been based on effort.

"On Saturday it was a case of 'I'll leave it and he'll do it'."

The conditions made sure this was never going to be a pretty match but referee Davies and his assistants strangled any fluency from the game with their pettiness.

Surprisingly. it took the hosts 44 minutes to go ahead.

A right-wing corner was first headed onto the bar by City defender Darren McCluskey before he responded quickest to bundle the rebound into the net.

Langford's men scampered around but never threatened.

Their only bright spot came when the boss joined the action with 20 minutes remaining.

But his neat touch and appreciation of space failed to spark the rest of his team.

The Tigers sealed the win three minutes from time when City's wispy winger Luke Prince squared for Lee Smith to hit a 15-yard shot inside Rob Clarke's near post.

The closest the Swifts came to notching a consolation was a last minute free-kick from Matt Beard but home keeper Matt Bath produced a fine save to keep out the 25-yard effort.

Former Kidderminster Harriers midfielder Beard and teenage defender Sean Wright were brought in for their full debuts.

SWIFTS: Clarke 7, S Wright 6, Charlton 5, Marsh 6, DAVIES 7, Cottrill 6 (T Nicholls 75), Beard 5, A Nicholls 6, Giddings 6, A Wright 6 (Langford 71), Gardner 5. Sub (not used): Hipkins.

STAR MAN: David Davies.

ATTENDANCE: 239.