Last gasp drama as Bridges denied in cup (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Last gasp drama as Bridges denied in cup

12:30pm Sunday 9th September 2012 in Stourport Swifts

Stourport Swifts 1, Stafford Rangers 1

Swifts earned themselves a replay at Evo-Stik Northern Premier side Stafford Rangers on Tuesday with an excellent display in this FA Cup 1st qualifying round tie.

But they nearly sent their visitors crashing out of the competition, substitute Louis Bridges being denied by a fine save deep in injury time.

“It would have been daylight robbery if we had scored with that last chance but their keeper has had to pull off a fine save,” manager Rod Brown admitted. “But we are still in the cup and will enjoy going up there on Tuesday night.”

Stafford went close inside the opening 25 minutes when Courtney Pitt powered a shot over the Stourport goal.

The visitors continued to have more of the ball but it was Swifts who took a surprise lead a minute before the break when a corner to the far post was not dealt with and striker Lewis Pountney managed to force the ball over the line.

Pitt put another chance wide for the visitors early in the second half before Michael Carr levelled the scores with a spectacular overhead kick that soared over the head of keeper Haydn Whitcombe.

The visitors had a number of chances to wrap up the tie but Carr and Ryan Dicker failed to find the target before substitute Liam Newman blazed over.

Then, deep in injury time, Stourport nearly snatched the win. Substitute Bridges, who had been on the field for just a couple of minutes, found space inside the Stafford area but his shot was brilliantly turned around the post by Stafford keeper Danny Read.

Swifts: Whitcombe 7, J Jones 8, Willetts 8, SPENCER 9, Smith 9, Walker 7, Adams 7 (Evans 67, 7), Dinsley 7, Pountney 8 (Bridges 90), P Jones 7 (Taylor 90), Jackson 8. Subs (not used): Bannister, Hurrell, Pearce, Lavery