Stourport Swifts 1, Stourbridge 3

SWIFTS were involved in a highly entertaining contest of two halves against a Stourbridge side who are one of the favourites to win this season's Southern League Premier Division.

However, Stourbridge were made to look anything but a title-winning side during the first half as Swifts gave them the runaround and fully deserved their 1-0 interval advantage.

John Griffin proved a constant thorn to the Stourbridge defence during the opening half and got behind their their unconvincing back four within seven minutes of the kick-off to force a fantastic save from goalkeeper Lewis Solly, who dived full stretch to turn the striker's goalbound effort round the post.

From the resulting Nathan Hayward corner, Stourbridge struggled to clear and the ball fell for Chris Knight, who turned smartly to slot home past Solly.

Swifts could have scored more during this period.

Griffin broke free on 17 minutes but Solly prevented him from scoring a certain goal by saving with his feet.

Then Hayward should have done better on 35 minutes when he side-footed straight at Solly with the goal at his mercy.

The elusive Griffin then robbed Stourbridge defender Sam Smith in the 38th minute and should have scored - but once again it was Solly to the rescue, turning the ball round the post.

Swifts were left kicking themselves three minutes later, when a cleverly taken free kick by Danny Scheppel sent Griffin racing clear to the bye-line where his cross-cum-shot beat Solly, but there was nobody in place to put the ball over the line.

Both sides rang the changes at half time - but in Stourbridge's case, it was more out of neccessity after an unimpressive first half show.

The second half proved a different story.

Stourport schoolteacher Nathan Bennett and former Swifts favourite Paul Lloyd were brought in to tighten up the Glassboys defence, while hot property Ryan Rowe was introduced to pep-up the attack.

Rowe was a constant threat whenever he was on the ball and he soon made his presence felt.

He set up Sam Rock for a 70th minute equaliser before fellow substitute Josh Craddock headed home a second five minutes later.

It was fitting that Rowe should score the final goal, accelerating past Swifts' defence to fire home on 79 minutes.

Stourbridge looked the part of promotion prospects in the second half, but there was much to enthuse about Swifts as well.

Danny Pitt looked promising when he arrived in the second half while Nathan Demonte gave a polished performance at full back in the first half and kept the dangerous Aaron Griffiths in check.

Swifts: Whitcombe; Demonte, Triana, Benbow, Whittal-Williams, Hayward, Scheppel, Duggan, Knight, Griffin, Aaron Lloyd. Second half subs: Reynolds, Pitt, Willetts, Bromley.