SWIFTS survived a nailbiting encounter with Oadby Town last night to set up a title decider at Bloxwich on Thursday evening.

The visitors stunned Stourport with a 26th minute opener, threatening to dampen proceedings at sunny Walshes Meadow.

But Swifts clawed their way back into the game and created enough chances to snatch victory.

They need to win by two clear goals to pip leaders Rushall Olympic for the Midland Football Alliance championship.

Oadby started brightly and on 22 minutes Jamie Johnson lobbed onto the bar when one-on-one with keeper Rob Clarke.

Four minutes later Swifts' promotion ambitions were jolted when Richard Walker latched onto a long ball and scooped the ball over the stranded Clarke.

Oadby continued to press with full-back Richard Swingler clipping the bar and then the misfiring Johnson contriving to miss an open goal on 30 minutes. Spurred on by this let off, Swifts saw a Mulders' deflected header brilliantly saved by Darren Heard. Five minutes before the break, Cooper and Paul Moore had successive close range shots blocked.

But Swifts' pressure paid off on the stroke of half-time when lethal Lee Booth rose to head powerfully past Heard for his 39th goal of the season after a cross from his strike partner, Moore.

The home side dominated the second half and on 64 minutes Alex Cowley spurned a golden opportunity to give Swifts the lead when he shot tamely at Heard when through on goal.

Cooper then struck a fierce left-foot drive, which Heard could only parry.

Battling Oadby nearly grabbed a last gasp winner on 88 minutes, when Johnson capitalised on a sloppy pass by Cowley, and squared to goalscorer Walker who saw his right-foot shot strike the post.

"I'm pleased with the result because they are a good side who didn't do us any favours," said Swifts' boss, Rod Brown.

"I think the turning point was when the lad missed a clear chance but lady luck was on our side.

"I'm happy to go to Bloxwich on Thursday needing the win. If you had told us at the start of the season we would need to win at Bloxwich on the last day of the season to clinch the championships we would have snatched your hand off."

l Bromyard Town's rescheduled Banks' Brewery West Midlands League Premier Division clash at Tipton Town ended in a 2-1 defeat.

Tipton took the lead, midway through the first half, before Jason Beck equalised for the visitors within three minutes.

The winner came three minutes into the second half and although Bromyard pressed for an equaliser, the home defence held firm.