Bailey double fires Swifts into Round 4
Eastwood CFC 1 Stourport Swifts 4 Isuzu FA Vase 2nd December Att: 134
A first half brace from Jack Bailey set Stourport Swifts on the road to Round 4 of the FA Vase.
Jamie Emery was called into early action to save from Kyle Tomlin, but the Swifts eased their way into the driving seat, and Adam Hanson saw his low shot saved by Sam Wilson in the Eastwood goal, and Ben Tilbury was unlucky to see his 40 yard lob bounce over the bar with Wilson stranded.
Swifts went in front in the 35th minute when Tilbury played an inch perfect pass inside the Eastwood defence for Bailey to take first time and steer his cross shot just inside the post. Tilbury went close himself in the 40th minute but his effort was just too high, and a minute later Eastwood were level when Stourport twice failed to clear and Tyler Blake drilled a low shot past Emery into the corner from eight yards out. The home side’s joy was shortlived however when on the stroke of half time Bailey’s 20 yard shot took a wicked deflection off skipper Romaine Graham to wrong foot Wilson and restore the Swifts lead.
Stourport breathed a sigh of relief during some early second half pressure, when Alex Troke’s firm header came back off the post with Emery stranded, then Blake drove a fierce effort inches past the same post. Jim Hanson then crafted himself a clear opportunity when he cut inside from the left, but his tame shot was easily collected by Wilson.
Swifts increased their lead in the 66th minute when Bailey and Tilbury linked up well to open up space for Adam Hanson to curl a perfect left foot drive into the top corner from 15 yards, and four minutes later Bailey forced Tyreece Robinson into a misplaced pass for Tilbury to pounce and slide home past Wilson.
The visitors turned on the style in the last 15 minutes, and Stourport could easily have run up a big score, but Tilbury and Dan Reka both failed to make the most of some slick approach work.
SWIFTS: Emery, Harland, Jevons, Ethan Hanson, Jim Hanson, Canavan, Slevin, Birch, Tilbury ,Bailey, Adam Hanson, . SUBS USED: Reka
Swifts stalemate again
Whitchurch Alport 3 Stourport Swifts 3 MPL 25th November Att: 125
Swifts let a two goal lead slip and had to rely on a late Matt Harland goal for a point in this six goal thriller at Whitchurch.
Jamie Emery was called into early action when he did well to punch clear a dangerous Alex Hughes cross and George Carpenter’s header flew narrowly wide, before Stourport went in front after Adam Hanson cut in from the left and crossed low for Aaron Birch to convert from 5 yards.
Whitchurch responded immediately, and Emery saved brilliantly from Chris Akiamale and then a fierce effort from Jacob Edwards in the space of two minutes, then Drew Canavan split the Whitchurch defence in the 21st minute with a slide rule pass for Ben Tilbury to race clear and drive past keeper Jack Sheward to double the Swifts lead.
Ben Jevons and Ethan Hanson were on red alert at the back for Stourport as the home side mounted some heavy pressure, with both needed to block Akiamale’s driving run into the box, and Hanson clearing off the line following Carpenter’s free kick. Whitchurch got the goal their efforts threatened in the 36th minute, when Hughes and Adam Hailes exchanged quick passes on the edge of the box to open up the space for Carpenter to arrive and drill low past Emery.
The second half began just as the first ended, with Whitchurch pressing hard to get level, and Hughes played a deep ball to the far post which looked to have missed everyone, but the cross was turned back into the box by Harry Bowers for Hailes to level the score. Ben Tilbury let slip the chance to ease the pressure when he again was played in behind but defender Aaron Sims blocked off the chance as he was about to let fly.Ten minutes later Whitchurch were in front for the first time when another Hughes cross from the left was met by Hailes at the far post to fire past Emery.
Swifts looked down and out until the 72nd minute when Joe Hanson’s deep cross was flicked on by Birch for Matt Harland to drive into the box to make it 3-3.
Jack Bailey scored what seemed to be winner with a smart volley in the 86th minute, but the linesman’s flag spoiled the celebrations.
SWIFTS: Emery, Joe Hanson, Jevons, Ethan Hanson, Jim Hanson, Canavan, Harland, Birch, Tilbury ,Reka, Adam Hanson, SUBS USED: Bailey, Slevin, Murray
Ten man Swifts have to settle for a point
Stourport Swifts 1 Lichfield City 1 MPL 18th Nov 2023 Att: 157
Striker Goodluck Eze was red carded after half an hour of this match, but Stourport Swifts were unlucky to concede a last minute Lichfield equaliser after a battling ten man display.
Eke went close from a Matt Harland cross before his early bath, and Adam Hanson shot narrowly wide after 19 minutes as Swifts were in command in the opening stages.
Swifts re organised quickly, and Hanson threatened again on the stroke of half time, driving just past the post with Lichfield keeper James Beeson scrambling. The second half saw Swifts maintain the initiative despite being a man down, and Hanson and Ben Tilbury combined neatly across the Lichfield penalty area, but the shot was blocked. Two minutes later Swifts were in front when Drew Canavan crossed from the left and Tilbury’s deft downward header crept in at the far post.
Jamie Emery produced an outstanding save from Lichfield sub Cameron Dunn in the 71st minute, and showed some great reflexes five minutes later with a double save from Liam Kurton’s piledriver and Jude Taylor’s point blank follow up.
Swifts however continued to look more likely to add to their lead, with Tilbury close again after another Harland cross, and Ben Jevons seeing his shot blocked after a series of corners. With four minutes left on the clock Ethan Tivey and Canavan produced some outstanding link up play to carve open the Lichfield defence, but Beeson tipped wide for a corner, but with the clock ticking down, full back Lewi Burnside arrived at the far post from a left wing Lichfield corner to drive an unstoppable angled shot past Emery to snatch a point for his side.
SWIFTS: Emery, Joe Hanson, Jevons, Ethan Hanson, Jim Hanson, Canavan, Harland, Birch, Tilbury, Eke, Adam Hanson, . SUBS USED: Tivey
President : VACANT
Chairman: Pip Hanson 07966 644762
Treasurer: Pip Hanson
Secretary: Graham Haighway 07780 997758 email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Commercial Manager: Nigel Wager 07912 890997
Press Officer: Ian Johnson 07970 237758 email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Committee Members: Ian Sword, Margaret Sword, Tony Lavery, Paul Reynolds, Claire Davis, Paul Frankling, Mark Wenham.
Accreditation Co ordinator : Paul Frankling 07786 380911 email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Life Members: Ian Sword, Sylvia McDonald
Team Manager : Quentin Townsend
Assistant Manager: Dean Rutter
PLEASE NOTE NO DOGS ARE ALLOWED IN THE GROUND
Official Club Sponsor
