Swifts hold the Blues as United pay the penalty

Teamwise, Parker was serving his one match ban meaning Rickford rejoined in the back 4 with Gerome Palmer, Armstrong and Boafo. In the Middle Hollis, Gowing, Cole and Brad Wells, the latter slightly further forward with TJ and Kieran Wells up top.
O'Brien had returned from his injury and started between the sticks.

The first half was almost totally dominated by United but they would go into the break just a goal up, would that prove costly at full time?

Kieran Wells almost got on the scoresheet in the first 2 minutes, having picked up the ball wide right he ran through into the box. A last ditch clearance out for a corner stopped the striker pulling the trigger. From the corner it was Kieran again heading from a Cole cross but on this occasion he couldn't direct the ball goalwards and it went wide for a goal kick.

It was bad news for the Blues in the 5th minute. Gerome Palmer who has been struggling with a hamstring injury for a few matches went down having chased a Swifts attack. The ball was cleared by Rickford but after having received treatment both on and off the pitch he could not continue and Burton was brought on. It could now be a few weeks before he returns to 1st team action.

The pitch was causing both sides problems and in the 12 minute the home side had an opportunity however having reached the edge of the box the Swifts midfielder lost his footing allowing Armstrong to collect the ball and clear up field.

In the 14th minute the Blues put in 3 crosses which failed to open any goalscoring threat, initially Armstrong played an in swinging centre but as 2 United players rushed into the back post the ball fell to the front. Then on the other side Gowing played the ball long when Kieran and Nightingale both went to the front post. Finally in the same passage of play Cole put a ball in high to the centre and although Kieran got to it it was too high and he headed onto the roof of the net.

The game then moved into a midfield battle for the next 5 or so minutes, unfortunately for me with the floodlight stanchion right in front of me I missed most of it! However it was the Blues who were on top with the ball being played around with purpose.

Brad Wells also fell victim of a very wet pitch in the 24th minute, Cole poached the ball off a Swifts midfield and carried it forward into the home side's half, he laid it off to Gowing who hit a cross field pass to Brad Wells, he controlled ball well and as he got into the box and was about to shoot his feet slipped from under him and the danger was cleared.

The Blues went ahead in the 27th minute and it was a great solo effort. Brad Wells tackled brilliantly on the half way line and played Nightingale in 35 yards out, he stepped inside 2 tackles and headed across the box over to the right. He still had time to have a slip of his own before hitting a curling shot into the top corner. There were screams of "Yes" from Rickford before the ball hit the net!

Swifts came back strong and had several corners in a row the last of which was dangerous which dropped right in the middle of the box, with O'Brien stretching it could have dropped down anywhere but the linesman had already put his flag up for a foul.
Moments later in the 33rd the hosts won a free kick on the left just inside the Blues half, the delivery was good and it saw their number 3 free on the right. He fired of a shot but it could only hit the side netting, O'Brien had it covered had it been on target.

In the 37th minute it was almost 2, a corner from Cole was headed goalwards by Brad Wells, however the hosts had a player on the line and he cleared just inches wide of the right hand post.

With 5 minutes of the half remaining Stourport had their best chance of the game, the Blues were tracking back having had a throw up field which was booted down by a Swifts defender, neither team could get hold of the ball and it rolled into the centre of the pitch just outside the box, Swifts number eight was in the best place and shot first time, however it was a tame effort and rolled through to keeper O'Brien with no real problems.

With minutes remaining of the half Kieran Wells went down under a very strong challenge and remained on the floor. The referee looked over and allowed play to continue. Nightingale played the ball in his direction but the ball bounced off the grounded Kieran Wells, his brother picked up the ball and charged down the left wing. At which point a Swifts player came flying in and upended the striker. The Swifts player escaped with just a yellow card

United won a couple more corners in the final seconds of the 1st period but it was a case of the ball either going too long or to short for where the United attack were positioned.

The Blues made a change at half time, Ben Gowing being replaced by Theo Smith.

The hosts started the 2nd the brighter of the two sides and had a chance in the 47th minute, no less than 3 United players slipping on the surface allowed Swifts to attack down the right. The ball was centred to the hosts number 8 who fired in a shot that bounced just in front of O'Brien but he collected well.

Just 2 minutes later and the Blues could have added to their first half goal. Nightingale found space just inside the box from a Boafo throw and having received a flick on from Kieran Wells he controlled and hit a good volley, the hosts keeper matched it and saved well down to his right.

The match was more stretched than that of the first half and with both teams going for it the hosts had a another good chance in the 51st minute, this time it took a very brave tackle from Armstrong who cleared the ball for a throw and received a bang on his back for his troubles.

Back up the other end and Kieran Wells was denied again by a clearance off the line, a corner from Hollis was delivered well to the centre of goal, Kieran headed to the left post but the ball was headed away. Rickford played the ball back in the box and Kieran was there again with a header this time the hosts keeper pushing the ball over the bar from 10 yards.

It was the hosts turn again as a ball found a Swifts midfielder in the centre of the pitch, he ran through before playing in their number 7, he cut back inside and had time to hit a dipping shot that cleared the bar by a couple of feet.

A minute later and in this end to end period it was the Blues having an attempt. Smith did well under pressure on the right to get to the edge of the box, his chipped cross was headed away by Swifts but only as far as Hollis. On the volley he blasted the ball to the back post and as it bounced it swerved away for a goal kick.

Despite the increasing pressure from the homeside it looked as though the Blues defence, whom were doing a fine job would stop any real chances from Stourport.

United began to regain the control they had in the first half and as the game moved into its last 20 minutes there were further crosses that potentially could have led to chances but the Blues players were not in the area's the ball was played to.

In the 73rd minute the hosts won a penalty, having picked up a lose ball in their own half Swifts played a diagonal ball over on to the right wing which saw their number 7 sprinting into the box under the challenge of Cole. Cole was adjudged to have brought down the midfielder although its not clear how from the video footage. Cole received a yellow for the foul.

The penalty was hit hard to the roof of the net by Parsons-Smith with O'Brien diving to his left.

This signalled another change from Charlie Palmer, Watkis replacing Brad Wells.

There were shouts for a penalty up the other end in the 77th minute, Hollis got past 2 defenders before attempting the cross inside the Swifts box, it cannoned back of the Swifts players arm but in fairness he was stood only a couple of yards away.

The Blues pressed for the goal that would take them back in the lead but Swifts defence held firm and they themselves had a couple of dangerous break away's.

With the last few minutes of the game remaining the Blues again had decent opportunities and again began to dominate but the final ball into the box was too long for any attempts on goal.

As the full time whistle blew it was a case of 2 points dropped than a point gained.