STOURPORT Swifts manager Neil Hunt is hopeful to have former Torquay, Notts County and Hull hitman Duane Darby for Saturday’s BGB Southern League Midlands Division One clash at table-toppers Leamington.

The former Bromsgrove Rovers player is training with Swifts this week and Hunt is hopeful that the 35-year-old will be leading the line for Swifts in Warwickshire.

Darby has an enviable scoring record in the lower division of the Football League, bagging 150 goals in 377 appearances.

“Duane is a player I am hopeful to have for the trip to Leamington,” said Hunt.

“He is vastly experienced and would give us some edge up front, which is an area we have been lacking.”

The Swifts manager has already raided Worcestershire neighbours Bromsgrove at the end of last week, bringing in winger Leigh Downing.

Hunt said: “He’s a lad I wanted to get in the summer but he wanted to give it a go at Rovers.

“But Rod Brown has returned and Leigh thinks it’s a good time to move on.”

Stourport produced a much improved performance in comparison to last week’s 7-0 FA Cup drubbing at the hands of Shepshed Dynamo, in their 1-0 league loss to Aylesbury on Saturday.

Indeed it was the visitors who threatened first with defender Matt Gardiner having a header blocked and then forcing keeper Tom Vincent into a save with the rebound.

Ross Taylor and Ashley Robinson also had chances for Stourport while Aylesbury’s best early effort fell to Aaron Flood, whose volley was well saved by Paul Evans in the visitors’ goal.

The breakthrough came nine minutes before the break. Stuart Maynard took a free-kick wide on the right and his delivery was inch-perfect for Carl Kavanagh who headed home from eight yards.

Swifts pushed for a way back into the game after the break but could find no way through a solid Aylesbury defence that had not conceded a goal in nearly four hours.

But any hopes of an equaliser were dashed 15 minutes from time when defender Todd Perry was dismissed following his ‘last man’ foul on Nathan Graham.

“The performance was 10 times better than our FA Cup loss to Shepshed last week,” commented Hunt.

“It was a close game and I think we’re unlucky to have lost it.

“Todd’s sending off was also something that isn’t always given.

“He had his shirt pulled by the Aylesbury player and he responded.

“It was an offence but the whistle should have gone before then.”