STOURPORT Swifts boss Rod Brown hailed his players after they produced a gritty display to defeat Loughborough University 2-1 on Tuesday night.

The Walshes Meadow side were reduced to ten men after Jon Griffin’s red card.

But goals for Calvin Dinsley and Chris Morrison sealed a fine win in the Midland Alliance.

Brown was not present at the match because of illness but was given a pleasing report from number two Dave Colwell.

He said: “Dave said the players have never worked and I am delighted.

“Loughborough are a good side and to get a result there was just what we needed.”

Griffin will start a three-match ban in a fortnight after an off the ball incident.

Victory was hot on the heels of a 2-1 defeat at Boldmere St Michaels.

A first half goal from striker Lewis Pountney – on his first start of the season – was a rare highlight.

The Walshes Meadow side suffered a nightmare start. Simeon Maye handed the visitors the lead inside four minutes as the Stourport defence failed to clear.

But it was all square on 18 minutes when a pin-point cross from Jordan Jones picked out Pountney, who controlled the ball and then steered his shot beyond Mikes keeper Liam Maher.

The striker almost doubled his tally before half-time when he latched on to a Calvin Dinsley cross only to direct his header straight at Maher.

The second half was just a tight as the first with both sides having chances to take the lead.

But it was the Mikes who struck the winner on 64 minutes. A corner was not dealt with and Jermaine Clarke was on hand to slot past debutant keeper Sam Hawker from close range.

Griffin saw a late effort pushed over the bar by Maher.

Swifts entertain Tipton Town on Saturday (3pm ko) in the league.