TIM Langford has urged injury-hit Stourport Swifts to put their FA Trophy woes behind them and chase the Dr Martens Western Division leading pack.

Swifts slipped to eighth in the league as they were knocked out of non-league's premier competition by Chester in the third round on Tuesday.

Midweek wins for Evesham and Gloucester took them above Stourport so Langford will be looking to re-establish a top-six position with Saturday's trip to Cirencester.

The player-boss said: "We look forward to the rest of the season and want to finish as high as possible.

"If we can play like we have done against Chester over the last two games, then we can keep a place in the top four or five.

"Mathematically, we can still catch Halesowen Town and Chippenham.

"If we've got aspirations of finishing high in the league, we have to go to Cirencester and grind out a result."

But Swifts were hit by injuries in their cup defeat which makes the need for new additions all the more pressing.

Langford is already eyeing up a loan signing from a higher level who he hopes to secure in time for the Solihull Borough game a week on Saturday.

The manager is facing at least three weeks on the sidelines himself with a hamstring strain, while defender Dave Davies (ankle) is 50-50 for the weekend.

Mark Dearlove hurt his much-operated on knee and left the ground on crutches, joining utility man Willie Dunn (knee) in missing the rest of the season.

Langford admitted: "We probably could do with a couple of additions to the squad. We are back to the bare bones again.

"But sometimes with injuries someone's bad luck is another person's good luck.

"It's up to those we bring in and play to stake their claim for a shirt for the rest of the season."

Langford has boosted numbers with the signing of teenager Sean Wright, a defender or midfielder whose attitude to training has impressed Swifts.

However, the club are still waiting to hear from strike target Richard Ball who plays for Oldbury.

Wideman Ross Knight is back in light training after injuring his thigh and groin while playing for Alvechurch.

Former boss Rod Brown, now at Redditch, plans to sign Lea Shaw who only left Walshes Meadow for Bilston last week.