ASSISTANT manager Jon Ford admits that Stourbridge have to quickly improve their defending if they have any hope of gatecrashing this season's play-off party.

The Glassboys again failed to make ground on the Northern Premier League's top five with a 2-1 loss at home to Farsley Celtic on Monday night.

Luke Benbow levelled for the hosts in the first half after Ben Atkinson had put the visitors ahead early on.

However, Celtic netted what proved to be the winner just two minutes into the second period to leave Amblecote with all three points.

Benbow missed from the penalty spot mid-way through the second period as the home side's hopes of a play-off berth continue to diminish.

They now welcome Buxton to the War Memorial Ground this Saturday (3pm kick-off) looking to breath life into their faltering season.

Ford knows just where the improvement need to start. He said: "It was a shocking first goal to concede with Leon Broadhurst caught in possession. It's not like him to get caught in possession in midfield but we didn't move the ball quick enough in that first half.

"The keeper should have saved it but at least we came back into the game straight away.

"I thought in the first half we had enough possession and only time would tell until we'd go on to win it.

"It doesn't really matter what you say at half time because when you come out and concede a goal as quick as we did it frustrates us.

"We've allowed four errors in one goal. We get a penalty and miss it and we've had a few chances after that but we've huffed and puffed. Being realistic it wasn't good enough.

"I can never see us having a 0-0. I just can't see us not conceding a goal.

"To be fair, the experienced guys in the dressing room have just had a conversation amongst themselves and they feel as though they're lacking a little bit of togetherness and hard work as a group of players.

"They feel they're not defending as an 11 and not attacking as an 11 and a few things have been said and a few people have been pulled out.

"Hopefully we can move on but I'm just disappointed because I think it was a game that we should have won."

Ford also said that he and manager Gary Hackett will be looking to add more fresh faces to the squad.

He added: "Maybe we need to look at getting one or two more players in. We're a bit lightweight.

"We'll have a sit down and target areas. We're a bit weak in certain areas in respect to competition. I think we need to target one or two more."

Matt Dodd again didn't feature against Farsley after picking up an ankle injury.