31/5/01 STOURPORT Swifts have added to their fairytale rise up the non-league football pyramid by securing promotion to the Dr Martens League Western Division.

Swifts needed to win by two goals at Bloxwich Town on Thursday night - and they eventually triumphed 3-0 with a thoroughly professional display.

Jubilant players, officials and supporters celebrated as the Midland Alliance shield was presented to Lea Shaw and Brendan Hackett on the pitch.

Amazingly, it was the first time Swifts had been at the top of the table all season - and they made the position when it mattered to pip Rushall Olympic on goal difference.

Rod Brown's men made the perfect start on a bumpy pitch by taking the lead after just three minutes.

A set-piece was cleared only as far as left wing-back Adrian Cooper who whipped in a fine high far-post cross.

Midfielder Simon Marsh, a Swifts player since a teenager via a spell at Redditch United, rose highest and keeper Steve Lister could only grab hold of the ball after it had crossed the goal-line.

Worryingly for the visitors, the game slowed down as a young Bloxwich side battled gamely without causing much threat.

But title-chasing Swifts remained patient as their manager had requested despite a number of blocked shots and injury stoppages.

Lister held a fierce 20-yard Shaw shot above his head after good work from Marsh and Alex Cowley on 35 minutes.

Then Marsh, who had made such an early impact, just failed to get on the end of a long Shaw free-kick.

Top scorer Lee Booth's header a minute before half-time was cleared off the line but from the resulting corner, their patience was rewarded.

Cooper's right-wing flag-kick caused a massive scramble in the six-yard box and experienced defender Jan Mulders stabbed the loose ball home through a ruck of players from barely a yard.

It was the vital second goal and drew wild celebrations from the Swifts side - as did the third goal which sealed the championship.

The strike arrived just a minute later in first-half injury-time as Paul Moore's persistence down the right paid off.

Moore won the ball and put in a low cross which Lister fumbled horribly for Booth to instinctively tap home the 40th goal of a stunning league season.

Swifts continued to dominate the second half with keeper Rob Clarke's handling only tested by a long-range free-kick.

A deflected Booth shot was tipped around the post and Lister then made up for his earlier error with a stunning push onto the bar after Marsh's header from a Shaw cross.

The ever-dangerous Booth was denied by a couple of impressive blocks from the Bloxwich defence as Swifts cruised home.

Swifts, a former Kidderminster and District Football League club, are continuing their fine rise up the pyramid and now look forward to derby games with the likes of Evesham, Redditch and Halesowen Town.

And delighted boss Brown, who plans new signings with Dr Martens League experience to bolster his squad, is confident Swifts can at least consolidate their position in 2001/2002.

Swifts: Clarke, Mountford, Ulfig, Hackett, Mulders, Shaw, Cowley, Cooper, Moore, Booth, Marsh. Subs: Nicholls (Cowley 75), Giddings (Moore 63), Knight (Hackett 71).