STOURPORT Swifts crashed to their heaviest defeat of the season with a 5-1 drubbing at home to Shepshed Dynamo last Saturday.

Swifts went behind after just five minutes when a series of defensive errors ended when Matt Fulloway failed to clear after Richards half punched away a cross from the left, and Matt Melbourne pounced to drive low into an empty net from a tight angle.

Jack Downing shot tamely at keeper Brandon Ganley as Swifts pressed to get back on terms, and Jim Hanson’s long range effort flew just over the bar, and then saw a second effort saved by Ganley. Swifts best chance of the first half fell to Downing after 31 minutes after good work by Canavan gave him a clear shot at goal from ten yards out, but his fierce shot was straight at Ganley.

Shepshed went further ahead on the stroke of half time when Lewis Platt miscued his attempt to clear from a corner and Joe Pheasant was on hand at the far post to drill home from six yards out.

Manager Quentin Townsend brought on Ben Priest and Mark Danks at the break, and after Nicol should have done better with a clear chance, Joe Billingham swung in a dangerous free kick from the left, Misambo headed against the post and Danks was on hand to score from the rebound and put Swifts back in the match.

The renewed hope lasted only nine minutes, however, when Josh Thomas’ cross from the left evaded the entire Swifts defence to leave substitute Jake Betts a free header at the far post to restore Shepshed’s two goal lead.

Jim Hanson could have made more of his clear chance after being put through by Billingham, but screwed his shot wide, and Danks and Downing both blazed over from the edge of the box as Swifts created several clear chances.

Josh Thomas showed the Stourport strikers how its done in the 78th minute when he cut inside from the left past two defenders and fired Shepshed’s fourth past Richards, and Pheasant made it five after Swifts again failed to clear their lines with four minutes left.

* SWIFTS game away against Quorn this Saturday has been moved to Wednesday, October 17 (7.45pm kick-off).

The next home game is against Lye Town on Saturday, October 20 (3pm).