Blaby and Whetstone 1 Stapenhill 0

BLABY & Whetstone stormed to the top of the East Midlands Counties League Premier Division with a single goal from striker Aaron Preston.

Stapenhill battled well but rarely troubled goalkeeper Tom Holyoak.

On a heavy pitch which survived a late inspection by referee Dan Hallam, the hosts were soon on the attack with Lee Barrett and Jake Limbert combining to release Karl Towers.

He crossed to Preston but fortunately for the Swans, the striker miskicked.

Then Limbert picked out Stuart Verrall, whose shot deflected for a corner.

The Swans settled down with Tom Liversage finding Jamie Disney down the left but he hooked his cross behind.

Then Jordan Stevens drove into the box from the left with his shot hitting a defender's arm but referee Hallam was not impressed and waved play on.

Stevens then found Harry Austin with a short free kick, with the defender firing just wide.

This was probably the best spell in the game for the Swans, with Paul Furniss and Brent Upton trading passes before the full-back's cross was finally booted clear.

Austin then picked out Disney but he scuffed his shot and the chance was lost.

At the other end, Preston reached the byline before cutting the ball back to Chris Goodman, who blazed over.

Then Towers and Verrall combined to set up Goodman once more but this time the midfielder's shot was blocked.

On 33 minutes, the Swans should have opened the scoring.

A poor free kick by Barrett was easily intercepted by Stevens who burst clear only to blaze wildly over the bar from inside the box.

A couple of minutes later, it was the hosts who had an even better chance to break the deadlock.

Nathan Rolph's under-hit back pass intended for Ben Gough put the Swans in trouble.

Austin came across to try to clear the danger but his clearance rebounded off Verrall who broke clear, calmly rounded the advancing Gough and with all the unguarded net to aim at, he unbelievably pushed the ball wide of the post.

The hosts continued to press with Barrett heading wide from a Limbert free kick.

Preston tried his luck with a speculative effort which was just off target.

Rolph then had to be on his toes to step in and clear up after a Gough free kick went straight to an opponent.

The full-back then went up the other end to whip in a dangerous cross from the left to Stevens but the midfielder's first touch took him wide and a decent chance was lost.

On 54 minutes came the winning goal.

Right-back Towers, always willing to attack, swung the ball in from the right.

The Swans failed to deal with it and Preston pounced to take a half-turn and fire past Gough.

Moments later, the keeper pulled off a fine save to deny Barrett.

Goodman then hit Verrell who hooked his shot wide.

The Swans kept going, with keeper Holyoak holding a Stevens free kick at the second attempt and Disney volleying well wide from another Stevens diagonal ball.

Blaby finished well with a shot from Barrett skidding just wide and Gough denying Preston with a fine save.

GOALS: A Preston 54 (Blaby).

BLABY & WHETSTONE 1 STAPENHILL 0

BLABY & WHETSTONE: Holyoak, Towers (Finny-Neckles 57), Hawker, Statham, Lavin, Wilson, Barrett, Goodman, Verrall (J Preston 83), A Preston, Limbert. Subs not used: Marvin Cooper, Brookes.

STAPENHILL: B Gough, Furniss, Rolph, Carvell, Dennahy, Austin, Upton (C Bullock 76), Liversage, Perry (Easton 67), Disney, Stevens. Sub not used: S Gough.

SWANS STAR MAN: Steve Dennahy - defended well against the hosts' strike force of Preston and Verrall.

BOOKINGS: Upton, LIversage (Stapenhill).

REFEREE: D Hallam (Derbyshire).

ATTENDANCE: 45.