Stourport Swifts 2, Studley 2

SWIFTS will have mixed feelings after extending their unbeaten run to six games in a hard fought clash at Walshes Meadow on Tuesday night.

When Lewis Pountney scored in a dominant first half, the home side looked on course for a deserved victory.

But they almost paid the price for not taking their chances as Ross Dempster made it 1-1 before the break and Thomas Lacey fired the Bees ahead.

However, Jordan Jones marked a fine game as a marauding right-back with an 83rd minute leveller against his old club.

Both teams started with attacking intent but it was Swifts right-back Jones who was getting the space to hurt Studley.

He delivered one fine cross in the eighth minute but with striker Lewis Pountney lurking, Matthew Collins cleared the danger.

Studley were briefly down to 10 men when Scott Turner went off for a head injury after clashing with a striker but he was okay to continue.

New signing Paul Jones, making his home debut, was proving a constant threat with his accurate distribution and close control. The hitman spun neatly in the box but his shot flew over the bar.

The home side opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Jones drove down the right and delivered a fine ball, which Pountney headed into the back of the net at the far post.

Swifts nearly added a second moments later with a fine deep free-kick from Tim Jackson, but as keeper Sam Brad struggled to take it the referee blew for a foul.

Studley tried to hit back and Jordan McGrath directed a right-footed shot at the keeper Haydn Whitcombe.

But it was Stourport who continued to dictate the game and when Jones released Kevin Spencer down the right he delivered a teasing low ball which evaded Swifts' strikers.

Spencer went for goal from 20-yards but his shot flew over the bar and the hosts came even closer when the illusive Paul Jones broke through and fired a strong first-time effort goalwards only for it to crash into the side hoardings.

Studley made Stourport pay for the wasted chances in the 25th minute when Dempster pounced on a slip by Mark Benbow at the back and slotted home to level the scores.

But the hosts roared back and seemed able to slice through the Bees at will. Spencer saw a low shot cannon off the base of the post as the away side rode their luck.

Thomas Lacey was booked in the 32nd minute after battling with the ball with the towering Spencer.

Studley came out more determined in the second half and pushed the hosts back.

Home keeper Haydn Whitcombe was forced to rush off his line and beat Reese Lynch as he raced into the box to the ball in the 53rd minute.

As the second half wore on, Swifts started to find their rhythm and after three successive corners, and Smith saw a diving header canon off a Studley defender.

Tyrone Smith was then shown a yellow card for a challenge on Tim Jackson, although the decision seemed harsh as the Bees sub had won the ball.

Swifts hitman Pountney steered a far post header wide from a raking left wing cross by Jackson.

Stour substitute Louis Bridges then darted in and headed off target at the far post but was adjudged offside.

But Studley edged ahead in the 76th minute when defender Collins fired home after Swifts failed to clear a Lacey corner.

Swifts levelled the scores with seven minutes left as Jones fired home from close range after a driving run and pull back from Bridges as an entertaining Midland Alliance derby ended honours even.

Swifts: Whitcombe; J Jones; Willetts; Benbow; Smith; Spencer; Walker; Adams (Evans, 65); Pountney; Pountney; P Jones (Bridges, 65) ; Jackson.

Unused substitutes: Pearce; Taylor; Hurrell. Studley: Brad; Robbins; Lacey; Collins; Turner; Blake; Lynch (Smith, 58) Pilgrim; Dempster; Rolfe (Thomas, 68); McGrath (Lennon, 74).

Unused substitutes: Mitchell; Nevins.

Referee: A Dean. Attendance: 68