HOPES of a cup upset at Walshes Meadow disappeared last night when Stourport Swifts' player/manager Tim Langford limped out of action after just 27 minutes, paving the way for a comfortable 3-0 win for Chester City.

Langford looked Swifts most potent threat and should have put his side ahead after 13 minutes in this third round FA Trophy replay but lost his head to blast a great opportunity high over Wayne Brown's goal.

"I should have made the keeper work but I rushed," admitted Langford. "I was really enjoying it out there until I was injured but now it means I'm out for another three or weeks."

The chance had come as a result of the Nationwide Conference outfit being pegged back by an energetic display from Swifts who outmanoeuvred The Blues in midfield.

Tim Nicholls was outstanding in the middle, his skill and tenacity driving his colleagues on and restricting the time and space for Chester to play.

Langford brought a good save from Brown in the 22nd minute when he cut in from the left and drilled in a shot which the keeper turned round his near post for a corner.

Unfortunately that was Langford's last contribution and he limped off with a hamstring strain to be replaced by Andy Wright - making his first appearance since his arrival from Rushall Olympic.

A crucial minute's action before the break proved to have a decisive bearing on the match and effectively seal Swifts' fate.

Chester's keeper Brown made a brilliant double save, parrying a close range Simon Marsh header and Tim Nicholls shot from an Asa Charlton free kick.

From his quick throw David Brown broke clear and rounded Rob Clarke, who had raced out of his area, to open the scoring from a tight angle.

Afterwards Langford felt his keeper should have made some sort of contact having made the decision to come out.

"If you come out that far you have to get something, ball or player, but I can't be too critical because he has saved us in plenty of games this season," he said.

The second half was a dour affair with Swifts having little glimpse of Chester's goal and the home side suffered a further blow when Mark Dearlove was carried off with a reoccurence of his knee problem, which will rule him out for the rest of the season.

The visitors doubled their advantage in the 85th minute when former Preston North End striker, Mark Beesley, shot low past Clarke and the same player bagged a second via a Steve Ulfig deflection on the stroke of full time.

Stourport: Clarke 5, Mulders 7, Ulfig 6, Southwick 6, Davies 6 (Dearlove 69, 6 - (Laker 88), T. Nicholls 8, Cowley 7, A. Nicholls 6, Marsh 6, Langford 7 (A. Wright 6), Charlton 6. Attendance 630.