SLOPPY Stourport Swifts threw away a lead for the second successive match as visitors Sutton Coldfield Town won 2-1 on a miserable Tuesday night for home fans.

The evening had promised plenty when Swifts' popular midfielder Simon Marsh was gifted a goal after just seven minutes.

Sutton keeper Justin Bray failed to control a back pass and as the tireless Tim Nicholls challenged, the ball broke to Marsh who steered it into the empty net.

But all that promise was soon gone as the visitors made Stourport pay for some woeful defending.

Just three minutes after handing Swifts their opener, Sutton levelled when Simon Tucker was left unmarked to head home a cross from the excellent Marek Szmid, a former Manchester United youngster.

If there had been a misunderstanding between keeper Rob Clarke and his defence for the opener then they were clearly talking different languages when Sutton added their second on 26 minutes.

Clarke's goal-kick hit defender Dave Davies and as the ball rolled free, Dean Baker gratefully accepted the easiest of chances from the edge of the area.

For all the hard work of Asa Charlton and Nicholls, Stourport never looked like recovering from their embarrassment.

The goal was Swifts' one effort on target while winger Richard Gardner was only allowed to show his trickery late in the match after finding himself isolated on the left for the majority of the game.

Jan Mulders and Gardner put efforts over the bar when they should have tested Sutton keeper Bray but it was at the other end where goals seemed more likely.

Tucker went close on the stroke of half-time, while Kirk Murragh hit the upright.

The final stages saw the introduction of sub Jamie Stainer but Swifts lacked the guile to break through Sutton's massed ranks.

SWIFTS: Clarke 4, Mulders 5, Ulfig 5, Charlton 6, Davies 4, NICHOLLS 7, Marsh 5, Crisp 5, Edwards 6 (Stainer 65, 5), Wright 5, Gardner 6. Subs (not used): Hipkins, Beard, Dearlove, Fletcher.

ATTENDANCE: 109.