Stapenhill 1 Anstey Nomads 2

STAPENHILL 1

ANSTEY NOMADS 2

TEN-man Stapenhill's poor run in the East Midlands Counties League Premier Division continued with another defeat at home to Anstey Nomads.

The visitors started well with midfielder Stacey Coore whipping in a dangerous free kick which somehow flew unchecked through a crowded box and into the arms of keeper Ben Gough.

The Swans responded well with a slick move involving Dean Bromley and Sam Taylor releasing Jamie Disney down the left. The winger swung a cross into Danny Gilligan who set up Jordan Dent for the striker to fire home, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.

On 17 minutes, Paul Furniss hit Disney who cut into the box only to be denied by a well-timed tackle from Simon Alexander.

Then a Furniss corner was headed on by Richard Perry to Steve Dennahy, who headed over.

A minute later, the Nomads were in front. Darren Taylor split the Swans defence and Joe Hartopp made no mistake, drilling his low cross-shot just inside Gough's right-hand post.

At the other end, Bromley drove in a corner which was flicked on by Perry to Dennahy, who headed over.

The visitors returned to the attack with Simon Ritchmond finding Taylor but his header was never going to beat Gough.

On 34 minutes, a mistake by Bromley let in Matt Litchfield who crashed the ball just wide.

Darren Russell whipped a dangerous ball into the box. Coore retrieved the ball and put it back in to Hartopp, who shinned his effort wide.

The visitors were back on the attack after the break with Alexander hitting 19-year-old Hartopp and it took a perfectly-timed tackle from Perry to deny the striker.

Russell should have done better only moments later when he headed wide from a corner by Coore.

Then Ritchmond skipped past Bromley down the right and crossed to Hartopp, who could not beat Gough.

His counterpart Taylor McMillan tipped over a wicked inswinging corner from Bromley as the Swans searched for an equaliser.

From the subsequent corner, driven in by Furniss, Perry headed over.

On the hour, the visitors doubled their advantage. Coore swung a corner into the box, Gough came out and got a punch on the ball but it fell to Joe Harris who calmly sent a controlled half volley high into the unguarded net.

On 61 minutes, the Swans' problems increased when Disney picked up a second yellow card after crashing into the back of defender Olly Creese.

Luke West found Hartopp and the striker, from almost on the byline, saw his shot stop on the goalline, where it was gathered up by Gough.

The young striker kept going and moments later, he turned sharply and saw his shot go inches over.

It was hard going for the 10 men but they went close to reducing the deficit on 77 minutes when Gilligan picked out Dent who blazed wildly over.

Ten minutes from time, visiting striker Taylor broke forward before going for goal with a low shot which was turned around the post by Gough.

A minute later, the Swans' problems increased. Taylor's shot was beaten out at the foot of the post by Gough and Russell, following up, landed on top of the keeper who suffered a damaged shoulder and was unable to continue.

Substitute Sam Allsobrook took over in goal. Eager to test the replacement keeper, Harris sent Hartopp clear down the right but his testing cross was headed clear by Dennahy.

Sam Taylor set up Gilligan on the side of the box but the midfielder scuffed it wide.

Dent then sent a decent strike whistling past the post as he sought to open his account for the Swans. He did not have long to wait as in the final minute he scored a fine goal.

Lewis Campbell found Steve Gough and the player-manager's inch-perfect through ball split the visitors' defence and Dent smashed a first-time screamer into the top corner past McMillan, who could only turn his head and admire it.

But it was all too little, too late.

GOALS: Dent 90 (Swans). Hartopp 20, Harris 60 (Nomands).

SWANS: B Gough (Allsobrook 82), Pickering, Bromley (Campbell 75), Upton (S Gough 65), Dennahy, Perry, Furniss, Gilligan, S Taylor, Dent, Disney.

NOMADS: McMillan, Russell, Alexander, Creese, West, Coore, Ritchmond, J Harris, D Taylor, Litchfield, (Reeves 72), Hartopp. Other subs: Z Harris, Hardy, R Harris.

BOOKED: Disney (Swans). West (Nomads).

SENT OFF: Disney (Swans) second yellow card.

SWANS STAR MAN: Richard Perry - solid defensive display by the centre-half.

REFEREE: A Parker (Whitwick).

ATTENDANCE: 42