Stapenhill 1 Ellistown and Ibstock United 0

JIMMY Easton netted a brilliant goal seven minutes after coming off the bench to seal the points for the Swans.

Elliston and Ibstock had dominated the first half of this East Midlands Counties League Premier Division match at a misty Edge Hill.

Jordan Stevens had an early effort blocked for the Swans but the visitors were soon on the offensive with a dangerous free kick from Cameron Haywood which was well defended by Steve Dennahy.

Then a great strike from Jack Murray was brilliantly turned around the post by Ben Gough, with the keeper then claiming the subsequent corner which was whipped in by Ben Harris.

The Swans replied with Karl Wayte lobbing the ball just over and Stevens bursting clear down the right before driving in an inviting cross but there was no-one there to convert it.

The visitors should have opened the scoring on 13 minutes. Murray hit Tendai Chitiza who whipped a cross to the far post to the unmarked Adam Joynson.

The winger shanked his shot back across goal to the other post where Chris Rudkin somehow managed to put it wide.

It was one-way traffic now, with Chitiza rampaging down the right but again there was no-one there to finish off his cross.

Murray then hit a speculative effort well wide.

On the half hour, the visitors went much closer. Connor Bartle picked out Harris but his goalbound header was acrobatically clawed away from the top corner by Gough. Rudkin then blazed wildly over and Jack Robinson headed wide from another Bartle cross.

Nothing much changed on the re-start with Tom Rowell volleying wide for the visitors and Joynson heading inches wide from a corner swung in by Bartle.

On 55 minutes, the Swans got a foothold in the game with three chances in as many minutes.

First, Wayte released Harry Austin who turned sharply before smashing the ball goalwards and visiting keeper Aaron Harris made a fine save with his feet.

Then, Tom Liversage whipped a corner in from the right and Wayte glanced a header just wide.

Finally, a clearance from Gough was flicked on by Austin to Stevens who drove into the box only to fire his shot just over the bar.

At the other end, a low free kick by Bartle was held at the second attempt by Gough and a five-man move ended with Danny Quinn firing wide.

On 70 minutes, Stevens left the field injured to be replaced by Easton.

The visitors resumed the attack with a shot from Chitiza deflected for a corner and a free kick from Rudkin was booted clear.

Then, on 77 minutes, came the decisive goal.

Wayte flicked on a clearance from Gough and Easton timed his run perfectly to cut into the box and crash a high-angled left foot drive in off the near post past a helpless Harris.

His goal sparked wild celebrations by the Swans, with Easton booked for taking off his shirt and waving it about.

Murray had a decent effort saved by Gough as the visitors went all out for the equaliser but the Swans ran down the clock and held on to secure a hard-earned victory.

GOALS: Easton 77 (Swans).

SWANS: B Gough, Furniss, Rowland, Carvell, Dennahy, Gilligan, Stevens (Easton 70), Liversage, Austin, Wayte, Upton. Subs not used: S Gough, H Bullock.

ELLISTOWN & IBSTOCK: A Harris, Laywood (Smith 79), Bartle, Robinson, Rowell, Timms (Lea 84), Murray, B Harris, Chitiza, Rudkin, Joynson (Quinn 63). Subs not used: Parrott, Gore.

STAR MAN: Jimmy Easton - substitute with the goalden touch.

BOOKED: Wayte, Easton (Swans).

REFEREE: M Fryer (Nottingham).

ATTENDANCE: 48.