Students teach Swifts a lesson (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Students teach Swifts a lesson

5:17pm Wednesday 9th January 2013 in Stourport Swifts

SWIFTS chairman Chris Reynolds is hoping Saturday’s surprise 4-0 loss to promotion rivals Loughborough University was just a one-off.

The second-placed Walshes Meadow outfit saw a chance to widen the gap between themselves and the side directly below go to waste as the students ran riot on Saturday.

Defeat means Swifts trail leaders Stratford by 16 points and despite two games in hand over the Warwickshire side, means it is going to be very difficult to overhaul the leaders.

Reynolds said: “The result was a big surprise but we just did not play to what we are capable of.

“Loughborough played very well and give them full credit but it’s a disappointing result.

“Hopefully it is just a one-off result and we can get back on track.”

On Saturday, the visitors struggled to create anything in front of goal and could have lost by a greater margin had it not been for some solid defending at times, particularly from man-of-the-match Jamie Willets.

Jordan Barker handed Loughborough the lead on 33 minutes, pushing the ball past keeper Dan Platt.

And the Students sliced through Stourport’s defence for a second time on the stroke of half-time with striker Dan Nti producing a calm finish.

Ryan Mahon and Kyonn Evans missed half chances for Swifts but it was a different tale at the other end where two goals in three minutes completed the rout.

Dangerman Nti supplied the pass that allowed Sam Cook to make it 3-0 on 53 minutes before notching his second of the game with a fine effort.

Swifts were held 1-1 by Causeway United last Wednesday. Dan Polan had fired them ahead but Matt Williams’ own goal pegged them back.

They will be hoping to bounce back with two games against bottom half of the table sides in the Midland Alliance.

They entertain Continental Star on Saturday (3pm ko) and then go to bottom side Ellesmere Rangers next Wednesday (7.45pm ko).