STOURPORT Swifts' Walshes Meadow hoodoo struck again as the Dr Martens Western Division strugglers slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Gloucester City.

A goal on the stroke of half-time did the damage and left the Swifts with just a solitary win at home all season back in October.

Victories at high-flying Gresley and a resurgent Cirencester brought with them a sense of promise and that was borne out on the field as Dave Titterton's side dominated the opening half-hour.

Richard Ball, Steve Ulfig and Kerry Giddings had chances in the opening 12 minutes before John Shirley drilled a free-kick wide.

With 30 minutes gone, City were forced to scramble the ball away after a Simon Marsh header had been blocked and, seconds later, Ball was denied by a good save from keeper Matt Bath.

This acted as a wake-up call for the visitors and Dave Wilkinson scraped the top of the bar with a thundering shot before Adie Harris fired an effort just wide of Rob Clarke's goal.

Just when it looked as though the half would finish all square, Gloucester sneaked the lead.

Neil Mustoe's free-kick was only cleared as far as Harris whose ball into the box found player-manager Chris Burns who stooped to head home.

The new-found confidence seemed to ebb from the Stourport players and skipper Giddings twice had to clear off the line at the start of the second period to deny Andy Hoskins and Wilkinson.

Clarke then kept out a close-range Jimmy Cox effort, while Lee Smith managed to put a header wide from six yards as City looked to add to their tally.

The final ten minutes saw Ball have an effort palmed away before Stourport substitute Leon Blake let fly with an 18-yard effort that just cleared the woodwork.

But there was to be no Christmas cheer leaving Swifts with a tricky Boxing Day clash with rivals Redditch United to look forward to but it is at Walshes Meadow.

SWIFTS: Clarke 7, Cotterill 6, Ulfig 6 (Wright 90), Davies 6, Mulders 7, NICHOLLS 8, Giddings 8 (Moore 79), Harris 6, Marsh 6 (Blake 67, 6), Ball 7, Shirley 6. Subs (not used): Sutton, Fletcher.

STAR MAN: Tim Nicholls.

ATTENDANCE: 132.