SUBSTITUTES John Shirley and Kerry Giddings inspired Stourport Swifts to a 2-1 victory over neighbours Bromsgrove Rovers in the first round of the Southern League Cup.

The Walshes Meadow side struggled for the opening hour before the introduction of Shirley seemed to inspire the visitors.

Ross Collins had handed Rovers a 26th minute lead as he eased away from marker Jay Powell to head home unchallenged.

And it should have been 2-0 to the Greens on the stroke of half-time when Leon Mitchell found himself unmarked six yards out only to shoot straight at grateful Swifts keeper Aaron O'Malley.

Giddings had already entered the fray as a first half replacement for the injured Mark Crisp but it was Shirley's arrival on 62 minutes that swung the game in Stourport's favour.

Just three minutes after coming on, Ronnie Sayer had forced the ball home after a Mark Atkinson shot had been blocked on the line by Oliver O'Connell.

Three minutes later Giddings pounced for the winner, again from close range after home keeper Ian Gandy parried a curling Paul Lloyd free-kick.

Dan Mason thundered a shot against the crossbar moments later before Nicky Green had to turn a shot off the line as Rovers looked to force the tie into extra time.

Swifts (v Bromsgrove): O'Malley 6, Jones (M) 6, Green 7, Webb 6, Powell 5, Jones (A) 5 (Shirley 62, 7), LLOYD 8, Sayer 6, Crisp 6 (Giddings 40, 6), Atkinson 6, Mason 5 (Checketts 80). Subs (not used): Titterton, Gittings.

The win was Stourport's first after four straight defeats, the latest of which saw them beaten 3-2 by visitors Rothwell Town on Saturday - a five-goal thriller of a match played in torrential rain.

The impressive Lloyd capped a man of the match display with a 25-yard strike to open the scoring on six minutes only for the visitors to level through Nick Tolton three minutes later.

Mason had glorious chances to restore Stourport's advantage either side of half-time but instead it was Rothwell who took the lead on 64 minutes when Jon Mitchell lifted the ball over stranded home keeper O'Malley.

Dave Titterton's side were back on level terms seven minutes later, Mark Jones firing home from the spot following a foul on Lloyd, but it was Mitchell who had the final say with a match-winning header two minutes from time.

Swifts (v Rothwell): O'Malley 5, Jones (M) 6, Green 8 (Titterton 89), Webb 7, Powell 7, Jones (A) 7 , LLOYD 8, Sayer 5, Crisp 7, Giddings 6 (Atkinson 68, 6), Mason 6 (Checketts 80). Subs (not used): Gittings, Shirley.

Before the Rothwell match, Swifts also suffered a 2-0 defeat at Corby Town last Wednesday evening.