A BATCH of trialists are bidding to earn a place at Stourport Swifts who opened their pre-season friendly programme with promise on Saturday.

Swifts comfortably won 3-1 at Midland Alliance club Halesowen Harriers with goals from Jan Mulders, Jamie Stanier and Stewart Dobson.

Stanier and Dobson are just two of the trialists training with the Dr Martens League Western Division club who gave 17 players at least 45 minutes at the weekend.

Player-boss Tim Langford is still hunting down a prolific scorer and said: "I would be happy if a certain player became available but he will remain nameless at the moment."

Stanier, who figured on the left of midfield, has been playing for West Midlands League Ettingshall, while Dobson is a young local striker brought along by coach John Powell.

Also trialing are former Dudley defender Ryan Walker, Swifts' player Matt Beard's brother Joe and ex-Bilston Town midfielder Anthony Fletcher.

Joining them are other midfield men Craig Webb and Nick Allman who is a former Loughborough University student with experience at Shepshed Dynamo.

Swifts travel to Boldmere on Saturday (3pm) before their first home friendly with Stourbridge on Monday (7.45pm).

Winger Alex Cowley played for Redditch United in their 3-0 defeat to Peterborough United on Saturday.

A tribunal, on a date yet to be set, will decide a fee for Cowley.