Kirby Muxloe 2, Stourport Swifts 1

Swifts failed to build on an early Jon Griffin goal as they suffered their first defeat of the new Midland Football League season.

The breakthrough came after just eight minutes when Alex Lavery picked out Griffin and he calmly guided the ball around the Kirby keeper.

The visitors continued to have the best of the possession for the remainder of the half without really threatening to add to their lead.

And this was punished within two minutes of the restart when a short corner was played to Aaron Love who side-footed home.

Karl Fellows replaced Calvin Dinsley in midfield ten minutes into the half and he soon went close to restoring Stourport’s advantage with a free-kick that had to be pushed around the foot of the post by the keeper.

Kirby’s winner, 15 minutes from time, came from the penalty spot. Swifts defender Kevin Spencer brought down Luke Winfield and Ryan Seal made no mistake, planting the ball past Brendan Bunn in the visitors’ goal.

Striker Lewis Pountney came off the bench late on but there was to be no way back for Rod Brown’s side.

Swifts: Bunn 7, Spencer 6, Briscoe 7, Willetts 7, Hurrell 6 (Pountney 85), COWLEY 8, Dinsley 6 (Fellows 54, 6), Walker 7, Griffin 7, Lavery 6 (Maund 67, 6), Parsons-Smith 6.