Stourport Swifts 1, AFC Wulfrunians 1

AN inspired display from visiting keeper Danny Tipton stopped Stourport from easing through this FA Cup preliminary round tie. 

Swifts had far the better of the opening half but a string of good saves ensured it was goalless at the break.

And although skipper Gary Walker fired the home side ahead, Wulfs scrambled an equaliser to force the tie to a replay on Tuesday.

Jon Griffin and Chris Morrison proved a handful for the visitors’ defence throughout and it was Griffin who went close on 17 minutes, latching on to a pass from his strike partner only for Tipton to push his shot over the crossbar.

A minute later the keeper diverted another Griffin effort just past the past and Tipton produced another excellent save on 32 minutes, diving to keep out a fierce Calvin Dinsley strike from just outside the area.

The Wolverhampton side came more into the game after the break with Nathan Rose-Laing shooting just wide before Richard Palmer planted an effort onto the roof of the net.

At the other end, Morrison headed over from eight yards before Swifts took the lead on 68 minutes. James Blake picked out Morrison and when his shot was blocked, Walker threaded the rebound through a sea of legs and beyond Tipton.

Wulfs levelled 11 minutes later when a corner led to a goalmouth scramble and the ball appeared to roll off the prostrate Craig Gregg and over the line.

The sides will battle out the replay at Wulfrunians’ Castlecroft ground on Tuesday with the winners of the Walsall Wood v Leek Town replay awaiting the winners.

Swifts: Whitcombe 6, Jones 7, HYDE 8, Willetts 7, Spencer 7, Walker 6, Blake 6, Dinsley 7 (Hurrell 83), Morrison 7 (Kandekore 71), Griffin 7, Harris 6 (Jackson 61, 6). Subs (not used): Evans, Conway, Parsons-Smith, Brown.