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SWIFTS manager Phil Mullen was cautious after watching his side get the better of Malvern Town 2-1 in the BGB Southern League Division One Midlands on Saturday.

Second half goals for Steve Frost and Richard Burgess ensured Stourport won their first league home match of the season to lift the struggling side out of the bottom three.

But the manager warned there is still a lot of hard work to be done if Stourport are to avoid last season's relegation battle.

"I am pleased with the result, but one swallow does not make a summer," said Mullen.

"We must not get carried away and think we've made it because we've beaten Malvern. We cannot afford to get complacent.

"We are a good side and have been lacking a bit of confidence and hopefully we can start getting better results."

Swifts were given an early wake-up by Malven on Saturday, who were ahead inside ten minutes.

Daniel Harding-Hall tormented the Stourport defence throughout and he had a key role in Malvern's opener, firing against the upright before Bryan Craven turned in the rebound.

And Harding-Hall went close to doubling the lead ten minutes before the break when he turned a corner goal-wards only to see his effort cleared off the line by Swifts defender Scott Stamps.

Malvern continued to create the better of the first half chances with the home goal living a charmed life. And that was certainly the case moments before the break when their star striker again ran through the defence only to fire over the crossbar from 12 yards.

Having withstood the pressure before the break, Stourport levelled the scores just two minutes after the restart when Rik Halion, playing against his former club, crossed for Burgess to volley home.

But having clawed their way back into contention, Swifts were lucky not to concede on 52 minutes when the visitors were awarded a penalty following keeper Craig Humphries' foul on Harding-Hall.

Craven took the spot-kick but fired wide of the goal.

That miss was to prove costly as the home side finished the stronger.

Frost had an effort cleared off the line but made amends on 57 minutes when he headed home.

Now Stourport, whose mid-week game with Willenhall Town was cancelled because a cup game this week, will face the tough task of taking on Cinderford Town away from home in the preliminary round of the FA Trophy on Saturday.

Swifts will be aiming to avenge a 3-1 home defeat to the Gloucestershire side in August and generate some revenue.

Victory over Cinderford would see Stourport earn £1,000.

"Cinderford is never an easy place to go and they have already beaten us once but I am bit more confident we can do well there," said the manager.

"It would be nice if we could get a cup run going because it generates some money.

"If we lose it also means we will have gaps in our fixtures and we don't want that."

Captain Mark Wolsley is available for the Cindeford game after his three-match ban came to an end, while Darren Andrews was given a week off by Mullen after being involved in a road traffic accident last Thursday.

Swifts v Malvern: Humphries 6, Smith 7 (Upton 63, 6), Robinson 7, Stamps 7, Powell 7, FROST 8, Webb 6, Halion 6, Joyce 7, Marshall 6 (Lavery 76), Burgess 6. Subs (not used): Parker, Paskin, Colwell.

n Swifts under-18s got the better of Lye Town in the Midland Youth Floodlit League Cup 4-3 on Monday night.

Will Tibbetts bagged a brace and caused Stourport's Black Country rivals trouble throughout, while Max Goodwin and Chris Hill also hit the back of the net.

3:35pm Friday 5th October 2007

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