STOURPORT'S failure in front of goal again cost them dear as they were held to a 1-1 draw at struggling Oxford City. But it wasn't for the lack of effort from the Swifts frontline as they had two 'goals' disallowed by the referee.

Early Oxford pressure saw Aaron O'Malley pull off a good save to deny Ronnie Joe before the visitors were denied what appeared to be an opening goal when an acrobatic Duncan Willetts effort was ruled out as the striker's foot was deemed too high.

Further misery was to follow for the Stourport striker when he found the net for a second time only for play to be called back following an earlier handball by strike partner Richard Burgess.

It was third time lucky for Willetts though on 33 minutes when he headed in an excellent Burgess cross to finally hand Swifts a deserved lead.

The second half saw O'Malley produce another good save to deny Mark Simms while, at the other end, City keeper Matt Finlay saved well from Burgess, John Shirley and the luckless Willetts.

But with five minutes to go the home side grabbed a share of the points when a free-kick glanced off the head of Stourport defender Nicky Green and into his own net.

The closing minutes saw Oxford substitute Nando Perra dismissed for foul and abusive language with but Dave Titterton's side could not make their extra man count.

Swifts play host to bottom club Egham at Walshes Meadow on Saturday (3pm).

Swifts: O'Malley 7, M Jones 6, Green 6, A Jones 6, Webb 6, Shirley 7, Lloyd 6, Volosanovs 6 (Newall 74), BURGESS 8, Willetts 7 (Atkinson 51, 6) Mason 7 (Titterton 87). Attendance: 146.