STOURPORT Swifts responded to the shock news one of their players was fighting for his life by giving their best display of the season to beat the league leaders.

While young midfielder Ashley Read was on a life support machine, Swifts won 3-1 at Dr Martens Western Division table toppers Merthyr Tydfil on Tuesday.

Read sustained serious head injuries when his car was involved in a smash near Bromsgrove on Sunday night as he drove back to his Belbroughton home.

The 19-year-old, who enjoyed a week's trial at West Bromwich Albion earlier this season, was with Swifts on a month's loan from county rivals Bromsgrove.

Swifts boss Dave Titterton said: "The players always give me 110 per cent but they gave me that extra 10 per cent against Merthyr just for Ashley.

"He is a lovely lad and our thoughts are with his family at the moment.

"He lit up the place straight away with his smile and the lads took to him within an instant. When something happens like this it puts everything into perspective."

Swifts' players recorded a first win in six games after hearing of the crash which left Read in a critical but stable condition in Birmingham's University Hospital as the Shuttle/ Times & News went to press.

Goalkeeper Rob Clarke admitted on the club's official website forum: "We were told before the game and everybody is gutted. All we could do was put in a performance for him.

"It's a fantastic result but means very little in the greater scheme of things by comparison. The lads are all rooting for him."

Seventeenth-placed Swifts are due to head to Solihull in the Western Division on Saturday.

Solihull are nine points off the promotion zone and include Kidderminster loan stars, 19-goal top scorer Andy Corbett and fellow striker Matt Lewis.

Swifts welcomed back Craig Webb (foot) and John Shirley (knee) from injury in their victory at Merthyr, while Steve Ulfig has finished his ban.

Keeper John Danby has extended his loan from Kidderminster until the end of the season.