STOURPORT Swifts are keeping their fingers crossed that Saturday's Dr Martens Western Division home game against Weston-super-Mare will beat the weather.

The icy Walshes Meadow pitch was unfit for the New Years's Day derby with Redditch United, and the continuing freezing temperatures have put Saturday's encounter in doubt.

But Swifts will be keen to play the game because the following Saturday they face the biggest match in their history when they visit Nationwide Conference side Chester City in the third round of the FA Trophy.

After the Redditch postponement, they will want to get back into action before their big cup-tie.

The club's biggest injury doubt surrounds striker Simon Marsh who is struggling to shrug off a groin injury and has now been struck down by a virus.

Swifts did enough to earn a point in their away game with second-placed Chippenham Town but were pipped 1-0 on Saturday.

The home side took the lead through Matt Rawlins and Swifts rarely looked like cancelling this out until the introduction of Marsh who has been on the substitute's bench in a bid to nurse his groin injury in recent games.

He replaced the injured Alex Cowley for the final quarter and inspired Stourport to their best football of the game.

With 20 minutes to go Adam Nicholls fired an effort wide following some good approach work before home goalkeeper Steve Weaver did well to collect a Matt Southwick corner that had been flicked on by Kerry Giddings.

Three chances in the final five minutes deserved a goal but Swifts just could not find an equaliser.

Giddings was first to try his luck with an 18-yard drive that was deflected into the arms of the grateful keeper.

Jan Mulders then saw his volley cleared off the line by Lee Vickerman before Weaver saved well as Mulders looked set to equalise.

The game's only goal came on 53 minutes when James Bent's cross to the near post found Rawlins who netted with a glancing header.

Bent had headed inches wide a minute earlier and Chippenham skipper Steve Tweddle threatened to add a second 15 minutes from time after surging 40 yards upfield only to be denied by Steve Ulfig's saving tackle.

Swifts: Clarke 8, Mulders 6, Ulfig 6, Southwick 7, Davies 6, Shaw 8, Cowley 6 (Marsh 68, 8), N A NICHOLLS 9, Giddings 7, Langford 8, T Nicholls 8. Subs (not used): Laker, Wright.