THE last time Richard Burgess was at Walshes Meadow he almost cracked the crossbar in two with a thunderbolt of a shot that, had it gone in, would have earned Bromsgrove Rovers a share of the spoils against their Worceste-rshire rivals.

Less than three weeks later the striker steered Swifts to the points with a late double in their 2-1 victory over visitors Bedworth United.

Burgess had been unhappy with a place on the bench at Bromsgrove but Swifts boss Dave Titterton had no such reservations and gave the former Redditch and Halesowen hot shot a place in the starting line-up.

And although it took a while to find his range, his goals ensured he has become an instant favourite.

A rain-drenched Walshes Meadow looked like witnessing a goalless draw until the visitors grabbed the lead 15 minutes from time. And although Aaron O'Malley saved the spot kick, Bedworth substitute Gilbert Cummins was on hand to bury the resulting loose ball.

Burgess levelled the scores in the 85th minute with a looping header over former Swifts stopper Lee Evans, Dan Bragoli providing the cross.

And the new striker then dazzling the visitors with a stunning late winner, carving through the defence and launching a powerful low drive into the bottom corner with just two minutes to go.

There was a late scare when O'Malley needed to produce a good save to keep out a Cummins effort in the final seconds ensuring Swifts bounced back in style from back-to-back defeats.

Boss Titterton praised his side's spirit after they came back from a goal behind.

"We thoroughly deserved the win because we played some good stuff in pretty poor conditions," he said.

"To come back and win 2-1 after being 1-0 down was very pleasing and showed our character and it would have been a travesty if we hadn't have won."

Titterton has now challenged his players to build on the success.

Swifts: O'Malley 7, Jones M 6 (Price 78), Green 6, Jones A 6, Powell 7, Webb 7, Willetts 7, Bragoli 6, Crisp 7, BURGESS 8, Checketts 6 (Checketts 78). Subs (not used): Parker, Atkinson.