Swifts hang on for win
Dudley Town 1 Stourport Swifts 2 MPL 1st October Att: 92
Keeper Dom Richards produced more heroics as Stourport Swifts edged Dudley Town in an end to end thriller.
Debut striker Connor Deards struck the Dudley bar in the 14th minute, then Richards flew to his left to keep out a fierce drive from Conner Armstrong. Jordan Davies then hit the post, drew Canavan blasted over the top then Deards tested Dudley keeper Alex Graham.
Despite all the goalmouth action, the first half remained a goal free zone, and Dudley began the second half with some menace, Armstrong giving Richards a scare with a 30 yarder which flashed over the top, then Davies forced the Swifts keeper to a reaction save from eight yards out.
Swifts took the lead on the hour when Graham failed to collect a Deards effort cleanly, and Darryl Knights pounced to force in from close range despite Graham’s desperate attempts to redeem the situation. The lead however only lasted six minutes, when Chandler Pegg drilled a low angled shot past Richards from ten yards after the Swifts twice failed to clear.
Stourport were back in front after 73 minutes when following some good play on the right from Joe Hanson, George Baker crossed for Deards to rise and thump a smart header past Graham in of the far post.
Dudley threw everything forward to try and level the score, with the Swifts goal seemingly leading a charmed life with corner after corner being repelled, Richards twice saving well under pressure and Armstrong and Davies both firing wide after some chaotic scrambles in the Swifts box as the clock ticked down.
SWIFTS: Richards, Joe Hanson, Birch, Ethan Hanson, Jim Hanson, Harland, Canavan, Edwards, Deards, Knights, Baker. SUBS USED: Adams, Jackson, Diallo, Johnson, Jevons
Richards saves Swifts a point
Atherstone Town 2 Stourport Swifts 2 MPL Sat 28th September Att: 249
Swifts keeper Dom Richards came to the rescue as Stourport Swifts survived a first half battering then came back from two goals down to snatch a valuable point at Atherstone.
Manager Ben Jevons made four changes to last weeks defeat against Whitchurch, and Atherstone flew out of the blocks with a wave of pressure as the new look Swifts side tried to bed in. Lewis Collins opened up a hesitant Swifts back line in the 7th minute and Toby Nicholl saw his near post flick shave the post. Richards saw the start of a busy afternoon two minutes later when he flung himself to his left to keep out a snapshot from Ryan Harkin. After 14 minutes Swifts almost took the lead themselves when Kai Adams broke through and his shot, parried well by keeper Finn Osborn, almost trickled in at the far post before being cleared.
Collins then shot wide after another Atherstone chance, and Matt Harland cleared off the line from a header by Atherstone skipper Connor Gudger. Nicholl then headed over from a Toby Steele cross as Stourport came under pressure again, and Richards produced a spectacular double save first from a fierce volley from Collins, then an amazing point blank stop from Chris Cowley’s follow up. Harkin then passed up a gilt edged chance to give his side the lead, but shot wide when clean through, and Ben Jevons’ header denied Harkin four minutes later as he was about head in from close range.
Atherstone’s breakthrough came six minutes into the second half when Harkin played Collins in behind the Swifts defence and he cooly shot past the advancing Richards. The Swifts keeper then denied Collins a second goal with a flying save to his right, but could do nothing to prevent the home side taking aa 2-0 lead after 57 minutes when Lewis Noone crossed from left and Harkin planted a firm header home from 6 yards.
Richards performed heroics again in the 74th minute when Drew Canavan miscued his pass to leave Harkin through on goal, but the keeper saved well at his feet.
The Swifts were thrown a lifeline with ten minutes to go when Josh Steel brough down Canavan in the box and Darryl Knights blasted the spot kick into the top corner. For the first time in the match the visitors looked a threat, and with two minutes on clock, some sharp link up play between Harland, Knights, Edwards and Jim Hanson set up Nat Hewett who fired a dipping 30 yarder over Osborn to snatch a point
SWIFTS: Richards, Jackson, Matt Hanson, Ethan Hanson, Cooper, Adams, Harland, Canavan, Jim Hanson, Birch, Knights. SUBS USED: Jevons, Hewett, Edwards
Swifts go down at home again
Stourport Swifts 1 Whitchurch Alport 3 MPL Sat 21st September Att: 143
Stourport Swifts suffered their 3rd home defeat of the season against in form Whitchurch.
Missed chances early on cost the Swifts again, and they paid the penalty in the 19th minute when Dale Edwards gave away a loose pass on the edge of the box and Whitchurch striker Lewis Bloor pounced to curl an angled drive into the top corner past Dom Richards.
The visitors increased their lead nine minutes later when Callum Knowles raced clear to calmly slot home from ten yards.
Swifts lost Ben Maginness early in the second half when he limped off with a foot injury, but Swifts looked likely to pull one back as Darryl Knights hit the post and minutes later had a penalty appeal turn down when he was brought down in the box.
George Baker made things more difficult with half an hour left when, having been sin binned earlier, he received a second yellow card to leave his side with ten men. The Swifts pulled one back in the 75th minute when Kai Adams was on hand to fire home and continued to press for an equaliser, but Whitchurch made the game safe when following a corner Callum Knowles header was parried away by Richards, but struck Matt Hanson to give them a third.
SWIFTS: Richards, Joe Hanson, Matt Hanson, Ethan Hanson, Jackson, Adams, Harland, Maginness, Edwards, Jim Hanson, Knights. SUBS USED: Baker, Canavan, Jevons
Swifts welcome three points
Stourport Swifts 2 Northwich Victoria 1 MPL 14th September Att: 165
Stourport Swifts ended their run of four games without a win with this hard earned victory against Northwich Victoria on Saturday.
Swifts produced a competitive edge which has been missing over the past few games, and Introduced youngsters Boubacar Diallo, Jake Cooper and Leo Gouveia to the line up in a new look side.
Diallo in particular started brightly, and twice tested Northwich keeper Ollie Culkin in the opening 15 minutes, before Darryl Knights put the Swifts in front in the 25th minute when he beat the offside trap to cooly slide home. Jim Hanson, restored to a midfield role shaved the post with a long range effort before Northwich levelled four minutes before half time when Mackenzie Faulkner slide in at the far post after a well worked corner routine.
The visitors pressed hard early in the second half and Mamadou Djabi fired narrowly wide, then tested Richards with a low shot at the left hand post. A clever flick from Darryl Knights set up Jim Hanson but his shot was deflected wide, then skipper Martin Slevin hit the post after a crazy scramble in the Northwich box.
Swifts were back in front with 20 minutes to go when a Knights free kick from the left saw Ethan Hanson react first to drive high into the net from six yards out. More drama followed two minutes later when Dom Richards was judged to have bundled over striker Sam Unwin in the box, but dusted himself down to save Unwin’s spot kick low to his right to keep his side in front.
Stourport could have added to their lead in the last ten minutes, but George Baker blasted wastefully over the top from ten yards following another Knights free kick and Ethan Hanson almost scored his second of the game but volleyed over the bar.
SWIFTS: Richards, Joe Hanson, Matt Hanson, Ethan Hanson, Cooper, Jim Hanson, Slevin, Diallo, Maginness, Knights, Baker. SUBS USED: Goveia, Harland, Perry
Poor run continues
Stourport Swifts 1 AFC Wulfrunians 3 MPL Tues 10th September Att:110
Swifts manager Quentin Townsend has resigned following a run of five games without a win and just one goal scored in a miserable run.
Stourport went behind after 15 minutes when Tom Poole raced down the right and crossed low for Freddie Cockerell to blast past Richards,
The Wulfs, on a run of four defeats in a row themselves, showed far more purpose on the ball, and nine minutes later Jake Lloyd burst though a static Swifts back line to fire high past Richards from 12 yards. Jack Watts and Ethan Tivey both went close as the Swifts worked hard to get back into the game, introduced Kobe Hall at half time to inject more of a threat up front.
Jim Hanson saw a good effort well blocked by Brad Lawley, but seven minutes into the half fell further behind when Ben Maginness brought down Curtis Cocking in the box and Cockerell duly stepped up to drive low past Richards from the spot to give his side a three goal lead.
Swifts finally broke their four match goalless streak when Jack Watts flicked a looping header over Sam Arnold from Piers Juliff’s cross from the left with five minutes remaining, but too late for any comeback.
Chairman Pip Hanson has moved quickly to replace Townsend, with former players Ben Jevons, Drew Canavan and Matt Johnson lined up to take the reins.
SWIFTS: Richards, Joe Hanson, Matt Hanson, Ethan Hanson, Jim Hanson, Harland, Slevin, Maginness, Perry, Watts, Tivey, Watts SUBS USED: Hall, Hewett, Kuzakwawo,, Juliff, Nicholls
Swifts hit for five at Stone
Stone Old Alleynians 5 Stourport Swifts 0 MPL 8th September 2024 Att: 84
Stourport Swifts season hit a new low with a five goal drubbing at Stone on Saturday.
Matt Hanson forced Stone keeper Raajan Gill into action after four minutes, and Kobe Hall shot narrowly wide three minutes later, but then it was all downhill for the Swifts as Stone took control and never relinquished their hold on the match from then on.
Ethan Vale fired Stone in front after 14 minutes with a 25 yard free kick past an inept Swifts defensive wall, and Jack Van der Laan added a second ten minutes later when he skipped past Nat Hewett and Ethan Hanson after Hewett hesitated to slam past Richards from ten yards out. Van Der Laan gave Stourport another wake up call in the 38th minute when he shot narrowly over the top, but Swifts defence still failed to get their act together just before the break when Vale played a neat 1-2 on the edge of the box to stroke past Richards and make it 3-0.
Darryl Knights tested Gill early in the second half but Stone still looked the more likely to score, and Van der Laan forced Richards into another fine save just afterwards. Swifts forced a succession of corners, but still failed to threaten a goal, and with ten minutes left Sam Wilson escaped the attentions of the Swifts defence to fire in number four. Richards twice performed heroics to deny Jack Tomlinson and Wilson, and substitute Harry Minshall hit the bar with a thumping effort, before completing the demolition when he drove in at the near post with five minutes to go.
SWIFTS: Richards, Maginness, Hewett, Ethan Hanson, Matt Hanson, Juliff, Slevin, Harland, Jim Hanson, Knights, Hall. SUBS USED: Kuzakwawo, Banks, Nicholls
Swifts goal drought continues
Stourport Swifts 0 OJM Black Country 0 MPL 3rd August 2024 Att: 108
Swifts stretched their goalless run to three consecutive matches as newly promoted OJM held out to keep a clean sheet.
Stourport again started well, with Matt Harland providing a pin point cross for Jack Watts after just five minutes, but his shot was cleared, then Watts created himself an opportunity when he cut inside from the left but his effort was deflected wide.
Swifts continued to press, and after 19 minutes Kobe Hall blasted over from 25 yards, and Matt Hanson produced the same outcome six minutes later after a driving run through midfield.
OJM created a good chance themselves on the half hour when Moussa Loita was clean through on goal, but his rising shot was well wide. Swifts best chance of the first half came just before the break when Hall and Watts linked up well on the edge of the box to give Hall a clear shot at goal but once again the finish lacked composure and flashed over the bar.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with OJM keeper Tom Clapp saving well from Watts, then George Baker shot tamely at the keeper when a Swifts corner was only half cleared. Watts then missed Joe Hanson’s cross by a whisker, and two minutes later he skipped past two defenders in the box but his low cross was just out of reach for Matt Harland.
OJM sub Demetri Brown gave the Swifts a scare when he forced Richards into a fine save with a low cross shot, then Stourport almost went in front when Clapp fumbles Slevin’s corner, but did well to block Hall’s follow up with his legs.
Watts went down in the box with two minutes to go for what looked aa clear penalty, but referee Ben Whittick ruled otherwise
SWIFTS: Richards, Joe Hanson, Hewett, Ethan Hanson, Matt Hanson, Harland, Slevin, Jim Hanson, Baker, Hall, Watts SUBS USED: Kuzakwawo,, Banks, Juliff
Swifts draw a blank again
Stourport Swifts 0 Lichfield City 1 MPL 31st August 2024 Att: 130
Swifts failed to find the net for the second successive match despite a much improved performance against top of the table Lichfield.
A bright start saw Matt Hanson head wide at the far post, and brother Joe headed back across goal from a Darryl Knights cross which dropped inches past Kobe Hall’s outstretched boot.
Lichfield keeper James Beeson produced a fine save from Matt Harland after a well worked short corner, before Joe Haines forced Dom Richards to a smart save with Lichfield’s first goal threat. The visitors looked dangerous again when Jack Edwards saw his shot on the turn flash narrowly wide. Five minutes before the break Richards performed heroics with an outstanding double save first from Callum Griffin then Edwards from the follow up, to keep the game goalless at the break.
Jim Hanson had Beeson worried just after half time when his 25 yarder skimmed the crossbar, but Lichfield went close too when Dan Lomas crossed from the left and Haines headed wide when well placed. Lee Chilton was then played through on goal by Knights, but fored wastefully over the top, then Chilton, Slevin and George Baker linked up well to set up Kobe Hall, who then shot wide.
The breakthrough goal came after 75 minutes when Swifts twice failed to clear their line following a corner, and Leighton Mcmenemy turned inside on the edge of the box and fired in an angled shot which cannoned in off the underside of the bar.
Swifts battled manfully to get back on terms but Lichfield held firm to take a hard earned three points.
SWIFTS: Richards, Maginness, Hewett, Ethan Hanson, Matt Hanson, Joe Hanson, Slevin, Harland, Jim Hanson, Knights, Hall. SUBS USED: Chilton, Baker, Kuzakwawo, Juliff
Swifts slump to first defeat
Studley 1 Stourport Swifts 0 MPL 26th August 2024 Att: 107
A controversial penalty four minutes into the second half was enough to condemn Stourport Swifts to their first defeat of the season at Studley, but in truth Swifts failed to mount enough attacking threat take anything from this match.
Swifts struggled throughout to mount any sustained pressure, and managed only two shots on goal in each half as Studley hung on for their first win.
Stourport could have gone ahead after nine minutes, but Kobe Hall shot straight at keeper Brendon Bunn, and Martin Slevin also saw his close range header saved.
Dom Richards was called into action to keep out two shots from Reece Taylor-Randle, and defender Mickey Mcguigan blocked Hall’s effort with an outstanding tackle.
Lee Chilton was judged to have handled for the penalty, but looked suspiciously outside the box, and Szhem White-Hall drove confidently past Richards.
Jim Hanson rattled the underside of the Studley crossbar from 25 yards, and then shaved the post with a low drive in the dying minutes, but the Swifts could not find the goal they needed.
SWIFTS: Richards, Joe Hanson, Matt Hanson, Ethan Hanson, Jim Hanson, Harland, Slevin, Hewett, Knights, Hall, Chilton SUBS USED: Baker, Broni-Phillips,Perry,Juliff
Hall equaliser earns Swifts a point
Stourport Swifts 1 Uttoxeter Town 1 MPL 24th August 2024 Att: 133
Stourport Swifts had to settle for another draw after once again failing to take their opportunities
Uttoxeter defender Rob Thorley cleared off the line in the first minute from Kobe Hall, and skipper Martin Slevin shaved the left hand post with 20 yard snapshot as the Swifts opened brightly, and both George Baker and Hall both failed to finish when well placed before the visitors took a shock lead on the stroke of half time when Joel Dyche set up Kieron Brown to drive home past Dom Richards.
Lee Chilton shot wide at the far post following a pin point cross from Slevin, then Hall and Darryl Knights linked up well to set up Chilton again who chipped narrowly over the top. Uttoxeter keeper Josh Melvin then denied Chilton with a fine block after Knights had opened up the Uttoxeter defence.
Swifts were awarded a penalty in the 61st minute, but Kobe Hall blazed his spot kick wide of Melvin’s right hand post, but Hall made no mistake just a minute later when Slevin again crossed from the left and his bullet header left the keeper with no chance for the equaliser.
A winner looked on the cards, but sub Jack Perry wasted the chance when he blasted over the top from six yards, and Melvin pulled out another fine save to keep out a 20 yard piledriver from Chilton.
SWIFTS: Richards, Jim Hanson, Hewett, Ethan Hanson, Matt Hanson, Harland, Slevin, Baker, Knights, Hall, Chilton SUBS USED: Joe Hanson, Broni-Phillips, Perry, Juliff
Missed chances cost Swifts
Wolverhampton Casuals 1 Stourport Swifts 1 MPL 17th August 2024 Att: 65
Stourport Swifts could only take a point on Saturday after they failed to take advantage of a succession of goal scoring chances.
Swifts earliest opportunity came after ten minutes, when Lee Chilton exposed the Casuals defence and squared for Kobe Hall to tap in from five yards, but the striker failed to make contact in front of an open goal.
Casuals defended well from a series of corners, but Swifts took the lead in the 17th minute when Darryl Knights produced a moment of quality to volley home Chilton’s cross with a thumping knee high volley from the edge of the box. Hall then forced a fine save from home keeper Wes Garfield when he turned inside past Ben Weaver and drove in a fierce effort which Garfield did well to hold, then Hall went close again when his low shot came back off the post.
Casuals were back on level terms however with their first real threat of the half when Phil Mckerdy bundled in Tom Cottam’s free kick at the far post after Swifts failed to clear.
Denzel Kuzakwawo looked certain to restore the Swifts lead just after the break when through on goal, but a last ditch tackle from Dalantin Ticha blocked his shot. Chilton then crossed again for Knights, but his shot was over the top.
Hall then set up Knights but his wild shot was high, then Liam Banks crossed to the far post and Hall blazed over the bar.
Swifts failed to take advantage of some hesitant defending to get back in front, and had Ethan Hanson to thank for some fine defensive work when he denied Rhyce Brown with a solid challenge as Casuals almost scored on the break.
SWIFTS: Richards, Jarvis, Matt Hanson, Ethan Hanson, Jim Hanson, Broni-Phillips, Slevin, Kuzakwawo, Knights, Hall, Chilton SUBS USED: Banks, Nicholls
Late Hall winner sinks Shifnal
Stourport Swifts 1 Shifnal 0 MPL 13th August 2024 Att: 140
Kobe Hall produced a moment of magic to give Stourport Swifts the points after they had spent most of this match keeping Shifnal at bay.
Shifnal probed constantly during long periods of possession but rarely tested Dom Richards in the Swifts goal, with only Joe Thomas forcing him into action as they dominated the first half.
The visitors created their best chance six minutes into the second half when Kevin Monteiro was played in behind the Swifts defence, but was denied by a fine block from Richards. Swifts responded well and Jim Hanson forced George Scott to a low save to his right with a wicked 20 yarder.
Shifnal continued to look more dangerous as Swifts struggled to create any serious threat going forward, but the Swifts back line showed some solid assurance dealing with any attacking threat.
Martin Slevin then headed narrowly wide from Matt Harland’s free kick, and Shifnal sub Macauley Taylor saw his goalbound drive blocked by the outstanding Ethan Hanson as Shifnal continued to test the Swifts defence.
The match looked destined to finish goalless, but with five minutes to go Hall picked up on a loose ball 25 yards out, and drove forward to drill a low shot past Scott’s right hand into the bottom corner to give the Swifts all three points.
SWIFTS: Richards, Harland, Matt Hanson, Ethan Hanson, Jim Hanson, Broni-Phillips, Slevin, Baker, Jarvis, Hall, Chilton. SUBS USED: Banks, Kuzakwawo, Nicholls
Swifts off the mark
Whitchurch Alport 1 Stourport Swifts 2 MPL 10th August 2024 Att: 118
Two goals in four minutes early in the second half were enough to give Stourport Swifts all three points as the Midland Premier League kicked off on Saturday.
Darryl Knights was first to strike after 52 minutes when he pounced to take advantage as keeper Jack Sheward’s clearance hit defender Freddie Bishton to leave him to control and stroke home.
Goal number two came three minutes later when debutant Kobe Hall, under the close attentions of two Whitchurch defenders, kept his cool to turn and drive a low shot past Sheward from 18 yards.
Lee Chilton then shaved the left hand post before Whitchurch got the break they needed when Billy West’s cross from the left evaded everyone in the box to creep in at the far post.
While the home side pressed to get level, the Swifts defence remained composed to deal with several set piece threats, with Dom Richards a re assuring figure in the Swifts goal, and going forward Chilton saw two effrts test Sheward, who then produced an outstanding double save to deny Knights his second goal.
Alport striker Harry Bower blew his side’s best chance to draw level with five minutes left when he blazed over the top when through on goal, but the Swifts held firm for an opening day win in four years.
SWIFTS: Richards, Joe Hanson, Maginness, Ethan Hanson, Jim Hanson, Broni-Phillips, Slevin, Baker, Knights, Hall, Chilton SUBS USED: Jarvis
Swifts go down in FA Cup
Worcester Raiders 2 Stourport Swifts 0 FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round Att: 186
Stourport Swifts slid out of the Fa Cup at the first hurdle with a disappointing display at Hellenic League Worcester Raiders.
Raiders took the initiative early on, with Jade Ferron shooting wide when through on goal, and Mateusz Klitch firing straight at Dom Richards when well placed. Swifts were restricted to set piece threats as they struggled to find any rhythm with Ethan Hanson heading narrowly wide from Darryl Knights’ free kick. Connor Deards shot wastefully over the bar when he could have done better, and just before the break Richards produced a fine save from Jack Creswell’s fierce free kick.
Swifts lost Matt Hanson with an injury at the break, and matters were made worse when Leon Broadhurst limped off with a hamstring problem ten minutes into the second half.
Skipper Martin Slevin forced Charlie Emery in the Raiders goal into action with a 25 yard free kick, and was in action again after Knights shot on the turn. Emmanuel Olaloko tested Richards with a rasping drive in the 56th minute, then shot wide from 20 yards out as the home threat mounted.
The deadlock was broken after 78 minutes when Swift twice failed to clear after a spell of pressure and Dale Edwards turned in the box to drive past Richards into the top corner, and Raiders made the game safe in the last minute when Jordan Murphy drove home from the spot after Ferron had been fouled in the box
SWIFTS: Richards, Joe Hanson, Broadhurst, Ethan Hanson, Matt Hanson, Jim Hanson, Slevin, Baker, Harland, Bustin, Knights. SUBS USED: Maginness, Jarvis, Nicholls
