GARY Hackett admits it's been a frustrating time trying to deal with Stourbridge's on-going injury woes.

The Glassboys have seen their hopes of automatic promotion dashed with three defeats in the last nine days, including a loss at home to league leaders Blyth Spartans last Saturday.

Defeat against Warrington Town on Monday night has left Stour in fifth place and back to scrapping for one of the four Northern Premier League play-off places.

The losing run has coincided with a massive injury list at the War Memorial Ground.

Wingers Chris Lait and Matt Dodd, strikers Justin Richards, Brandon Hague and Luke Benbow, and defender Jack Duggan have all been missing in recent weeks.

The departures of Kristian Green, Dan Scarr, Junior Smikle and Conor Gater have further weakened Stour since the turn of the year.

Hackett said: "It has been a very difficult and challenging nine days. Maybe a few better results would only have papered over the cracks.

"We have tried to bring a few new faces in to help us but it is much easier said than done to find people as good as what we have who can then slot straight in without needing time to get used to each other. A few have maybe found it hard to deal with the level of expectation here as well.

"It has been very frustrating because I know how strong we can be when everyone is fit and available.

"If you took five or six key players out of any team in the country they would struggle."

One positive, however, has been the early return of star striker Benbow from a hand injury.

He came back into the side three weeks earlier than expected on Monday after a second x-ray revealed he would be able to play with a lighter cast.

Despite his return, the manager is still keen to boost numbers at Amblecote and is targeting a defender and attacker in the coming days.

"We want to bring two new players in by the weekend and are working hard to do that," he added. "We need players to come in with a certain level of experience and nous."

The boss is also keen to move on quickly rather than dwell on the injury situation, adding: "I think the sympathetic situation is over now.

"I really want to stress how grateful we are for the support of the fans at the moment.

"I think they understand the situation we are in with injuries and have been brilliant. I want to thank them for that."

The Glassboys will look to get back to winning ways when they go to Whitby Town this Saturday.