Brierley and Hagley returned to league action after nearly a month off but manager Tony Gore was left wondering if the players realised the break was over.

A depleted B and H slipped into the relegation scrap after crashing to a 2-1 home defeat against fellow strugglers Ledbury with a performance Gore described as a "nightmare."

Gore,without five regular starters, through a mixture of injury and suspension but refused to make excuses for the defeat saying: "The players have to do better than that, whether they are regulars or not. You get out of matches what you put in and the players have to be aware of that."

The furious manager added: "We didn't pass, we didn't compete, we conceded poor goals.

"The players have got some ability and they have got to show that in the remaining matches because we are in a scrap now, like it or not."

The Briers face a crucial match on Saturday when they entertain a Wednesfield side just above them in the table (kick off 3pm).

They are still without the suspended Mark Gore but hope to welcome back at least one of injured quartet Andrew Webster, Dane Knowles, James Taylor and Mitch Lawford.