STOURPORT Swifts suffered defeat in their opening Midland Premier League match of the season in front of a bumper crowd at Ilkeston.

A late strike from the hosts handed them a 3-2 success last Saturday.

After a shaky start, new look Swifts, with six players making their debuts, took the lead when Drew Canavan slipped a precision pass inside the Ilkeston defence for Mark Danks to slide past the advancing Liam Mitchell from 12 yards.

Ilkeston replied quickly, and Swifts were fortunate Alex Marshall shot wide when put clean through, and Richards saved well at the feet of Reeves. The same player made no mistake however after 14 minutes when he fired past Richards’ right hand to level the score.

Canavan saw his free kick tipped over the bar by Mitchell, and Ilkeston had a lucky escape when Danks’ shot was saved and Nicol, following up, saw his shot blocked on the line. Danks almost scored again when his shot on the turn was again tipped over by Mitchell, and Oli Mulders also brought a smart save from Mitchell. Swifts finished the half strongly, and Mulders and Lewis Platt both shot over the bar, and Canavan’s 30 yard free kick was saved by Mitchell.

Chances continued to flow at both ends after the break, and four minutes into the second half Nicol escaped two defenders on the right but no one was in the box to tap in his inviting low cross.

Lavelle White shot wide from a good chance for Ilkeston, and after Richards saved well with his feet from Bennett Shaun Rickford rose unmarked from the resulting corner to put his side in front.

Jack Downing almost levelled with his first touch after replacing Danks, but fired straight at Mitchell, but Swifts were level in the 74th minute when Ben Priest headed down Canavan’s right wing corner and Andy Nicol pounced to force home.

With three minutes left Bennett’s free kick wide on the left evaded Platt at the far post, Ryan Whitehurst crossed low, and Ilkeston sub Malachi Lavelle-Moore tapped in from a yard out to give his side the points.