Stourport Swifts 3, Continental Star 1

Stourport kept their Midland Alliance title hopes alive with victory over their Birmingham visitors.

And they could not have wished for a better start, opening up a two-goal lead inside 12 minutes.

Star man Lewis Pountney grabbed the first of his brace after just five minutes, pouncing on a loose back pass before tapping into the empty net.

Swifts continued to pile on the pressure and were rewarded with a second goal when Kevin Spencer drilled a shot through a crowded Star area.

Rod Brown’s side should have been out of sight by the break but squandered a number of good chances. Kyonn Evans and John Griffin managed to miss the target when well-placed while Jamie Willets had a header saved.

The visitors rode their luck and reduced the arrears on 27 minutes when Davion Hamilton slotted home.

And that goal lifted Star after the break as they tried to find the equaliser.

Instead it was Swifts who completed the scoring 15 minutes from time when a brilliant pass from Jordan Jones picked out Pountney who guided his header over the visiting keeper.

The win means Swifts are now 13 points behind league leaders Stratford Town with a game in hand.

Swifts: Whitcombe 7, Jones 8, Willets 7, Spencer 7, Benbow 7, Walker 8, Lloyd 7, Evans 7 (Dinsley 67, 8), POUNTNEY 9 (Seekings 84), Griffin 7 (Polan 82), Jackson 7. Subs (not used): Williams, Smith.