STOURPORT Swifts boss Roy Rencher has set his strugglers a 40-point safety target after another Southern Football League hard luck story at Leighton Town.

Swifts seemed certain to have bagged three vitals points towards their survival scrap - only to be denied by an injury time equaliser.

"We're just not getting the luck at the moment and it's hard to take because we deserve to be 10 points better off than we are," said Rencher.

"I think we need 40 points to be safe and we've got 27 now, so another 13 or 15 will do us."

Rencher hopes to have added more new faces in time for the crucial double header at home to Beaconsfield on Saturday and away at Solihull Borough on Wednesday.

He is in a tug-of-war with Evesham for the services of attacking targetman Dean Curtis who has been released by Solihull.

Uncompromising former Evesham centre half Lee Knight is also on the verge of signing.

Against Leighton, Swifts paid the price for not converting their chances, particularly in the opening half.

Rencher included new signing Justin Jackson in his line-up and the striker had the first chance of the game on 15 minutes when he drilled a long-range effort just wide.

Shaun Findlay put another effort past the post before a Swifts corner found Craig Marshall, back for a second loan spell from Hednesford Town, only for the youngster to head over the crossbar.

The visitors continued to press and the impressive Findlay found space behind the Leighton defence only for his shot to be blocked by Bruce Wilson. But it was from the resulting corner that Swifts opened the scoring, Richard Burgess turning the ball home from close range.

Town came more into the game in the second half with Michael Chennells firing wide before Peter Clifford rattled the crossbar with a fierce drive that had keeper Craig Ladek beaten.

Just when it seemed the home side were beginning to get on top, Swifts nearly netted a second on the hour but Marshall was denied by a last gasp goalline clearance from Matt Myatt.

With just seconds to go, Leighton levelled when second half substitute Enzo Silvestri pushed the ball past his marker and slotted home from close range.

100 club number - 29.