Tuesday, January 29, 2002

STOURPORT Swifts reached the final of the Worcester Royal Infirmary Senior Cup last night with a 2-1 win at Bromsgrove Rovers.

Swifts played like a side higher in status from the start and created the better chances.

Andy Wright was unlucky when his shot was deflected on to the bar after eight minutes and Matt Lowe saved well from Alex Cowley two minutes later.

Rovers, the cup holders, struggled to get going and had Matt Lowe booked for a high challenge, leaving him needing treatment, as well as Sam Bowen cautioned before the end of the half.

The visitors almost put through their own net five minutes after the break when a Swifts defender headed just past his own post trying to clear.

Then, on 62 minutes, Stourport deservedly took the lead when Wright made the most of a mix-up in the Bromsgrove defence to finish well from 10 yards.

As Rovers pushed for the equaliser, Les Palmer replaced the hard working Marvin Blake.

But it was Swifts who went two clear and put the game beyond Bromsgrove with 12 minutes left after a dreadful mistake by Sam Campagna in the home defence let Kerry Giddings in to score.

Rovers made a fight of it towards the end and Bowen scored a well taken consolation goal on 84 minutes when he intercepted a wayward pass.