STOURPORT Swifts earned their first point of the season with a battling display at Sporting Khalsa on Tuesday night.

Swifts opened strongly and Drew Canavan played in Mark Danks with eight minutes gone, but he saw his shot well saved by Khalsa keeper Sam Arnold.

A minute later Andy Nicol forced Arnold to turn his low drive round the post. Canavan’s shot was blocked by a desperate challenge from Khalsa skipper Robinson, and a left wing corner from the same player bounced off the bar. Danks and Nicol tested Arnold twice more as Swifts dominated early on.

After 28 minutes, Swifts almost took the lead when Canavan’s free kick was deflected inches wide by defender Leon Miles. Khalsa’s produced little to threaten Richards in the first half, with Ben Priest blocking a goalbound shot from Mensah Kinch, and Lee Chilton’s dangerous cross was just too high for Tony Clarke.

After Lewis Platt fired a fierce 25 yarder just wide early in the second half, Swifts were forced back under some Khalsa pressure, but Rudy Misambo, returning after suspension, and captain Ben Priest looked solid in Swifts new look back four. Richards saved well from Chilton and held on to a long range effort from Alex Melbourne as Khalsa forced a succession of corners, but Swifts twice could have forged ahead when Jack Downing just failed to connect from Joe Hanson’s cross and Danks was inches from Canavan’s low cross.

Sub Josh Thomas tested Richards, and in the last minute Khalsa almost snatched it when after a goalmouth scramble Dan Westwood saw his close range effort come back off the bar.

The draw followed Stourport's win in the FA Cup extra preliminary round last Saturday.

Goals from Nicol and Jack Downing handed them a 2-1 victory over Shawbury United and a clash with Sporting Khalsa in the next round on August 25.

Swifts will keep their focus on the league this Saturday when South Normanton Athletic visit Walshes Meadow (3pm kick-off).