INJURY-ravaged Stourport Swifts produced a battling display to inflict Bromsgrove Rovers' first defeat under Jimmy Mullen's management in a thrilling 2-1 win at Walshes Meadow.

Former Rovers player Mark Atkinson was a mini-marvel for the hosts as his brace in the opening 20 minutes saw off a lacklustre Rovers side.

He got his first on 14 minutes when Duncan Willetts hit the ball across goal and although it eluded Mark Crisp, Atkinson made no mistake as he drove home from close range.

Pint-sized powerhouse Atkinson got a second two minutes later, waltzing through the defence to fire home from the edge of the box.

Bromsgrove finally woke up and, in their first real attack, Paul Szewczyk missed a great chance as he fired over from six yards after indecision in the Stourport defence.

Atkinson went close to grabbing a hat-trick as a deep cross just escaped him as he slid in at the far post.

Willetts then got free after a Craig Webb clearance and tried chipping Ian Gandy but his shot just went wide.

Rovers got back into the game when a long through-ball took a deflection and fell to Szewczyk who fired home from close range.

Just before half-time, Bromsgrove were furious as an effort was ruled out for offside.

The ever-dangerous Szewczyk had a shot half-saved by 'keeper Aaron O'Malley but Leon Mitchell pounced on the loose ball and found the net from six yards. As Mitchell celebrated, the referee noticed his assistant's flag and Stourport breathed a sigh of relief.

It was then Swifts' turn to be angry with the officials as a Willetts cross appeared to strike Matt Johnson's arm and their top scorer was incensed his side were not awarded a penalty.

After the interval it was nearly all one-way traffic as Bromsgrove strived for an equaliser.

Steve Hillman was the first to go close then chances fell to Kevin Banner, Mitchell and Mark Benbow but a combination of good defending and solid goalkeeping kept Stourport in the lead.

Stourport struggled to get out of their own half and in a rare attack Danny Bragoli shot well over.

Rovers manager Mullen made three substitutions as his side got more desperate. One of those, Richard Burgess, almost grabbed a dramatic leveller as he crashed a dipping volley against the crossbar with four minutes left.

Bromsgrove's last chance fell to ex-Swift Steve Ulfig but his looping shot from outside the box cleared the bar.

The referee then blew for full-time to send Stourport's players and fans into wild celebrations with captain Webb in particular showing how much a win over their local rivals meant.

Swifts: O'Malley 7, M Jones 7, Green 6, A Jones 7, Webb 7, Tilley 7, Lloyd 7, Bragoli 6, Crisp 6, Willetts 6, *Atkinson 8. Subs not used Titterton, Parker.

Rovers: Gandy 6, Johnson 8, Ulfig 7, Hillman 6, Frost 6, Erraji 5, Francis 6 (Burgess 71), Benbow 6 (Mahon 82), *Szewczyk 8, Mitchell 6 (Daniels 61, 6), Banner 6.

Attendance: 316.