CINDERFORD 0, SWIFTS 1

A FIRST-HALF goal from Jamie Wood was enough to give Stourport their first away win of the season on Saturday.

Swifts made all the running in the first period and Cinderford goalkeeper Andy Fisher made a tremendous save on 11 minutes to fingertip a close-range Wood header around the upright.

Dave Titterton's side continued to hold the upper hand and their pressure finally paid off when they took the lead after 18 minutes.

A corner on the right was only half cleared, John Cotterill knocked the ball back into the area and Wood skilfully turned his marker to score at the second attempt after Fisher had parried his first strike.

Cinderford came out in a more positive mood after the break as they began to dominate and Swifts keeper Lee Evans made a flying save on 55 minutes to palm a Jamie Hammonds 20-yard drive past the post.

Moments later Evans had to produce another good save to keep out Chris Bale's header.

But despite relentless home pressure they had trouble breaking through a solid well-organised Stourport rearguard.

In one of their rare second half attacks, with just a minute remaining, Swifts could have doubled their lead when substitute Rob Taylor, on his Stourport debut, made a dazzling run down the left but, after bursting into the box, fired his weak shot straight into the arms of Fisher.

SWIFTS: Evans 8, Cotterill 7, Ulfig 7, Jones 8, DAVIES 9, Harris 7, Hyde 7 (Dunn 60, 7), Sayer 7, Wood 7 (Taylor 84), Wright 8 (Ball 72), Webb 8. Subs (not used): Kilgour, Hawkes.

STAR MAN: Dave Davies

ATTENDANCE: 127