Loughborough University 1 Stourport Swifts 2

STOURPORT must wish Loughborough University are their regular Saturday opponents, writes Colin Stoner.

For the fifth successive match, Swifts faced the students and claimed maximum points, thanks to Ash Smith’s second-half cross-shot winner.

“The keeper thought he was going to cross but as soon as it left his foot you could see it was in,” said manager Rod Brown. “It went straight over the keeper into the net.”

It was the perfect way for Swifts to respond to their midweek defeat to Quorn and victory meant Brown’s side have lost just once in ten matches.

Lewis Pountney fired Stourport ahead, driving his shot through a melee of players and the woodwork twice denied Swifts, with John Griffin hitting the post after a one on one with the keeper before Jamie Wills struck the bar from a corner.

But immediately Swifts broke away and it was 1-1 with … slotting home past keeper Brendan Bunn.

Swifts, however, stifled the hosts after the break, with midfielder Robbie Bunn closing down tirelessly in a man of the match performance in only his second start.

The visitors continued to create the better chances and Smith’s spectacular finish earned the victory.

“It was a tough game but we changed our shape slightly in the second half to curb their mobility on what is a big pitch,” said Brown. “Despite getting only the one goal, I thought we were comfortable and they didn’t really threaten.”

SWIFTS: B Bunn7, Hurrel 7, Briscoe 7, Willetts 7, Hyde 7; Smith 7, Fellows 7, R Bunn 8, Maund 7; Pountney 7, Griffin 7.