STOURPORT Swifts cruelly crashed out of the FA Cup following a 2-0 defeat at Unibond Premier Division side Hucknall Town.

But manager Rod Brown refus-ed to be downbeat, praising his players for their display.

Brown said: "I cannot use the excuse that we were rubbish bec-ause we weren't.

"It could have been different if we had had a little bit of luck. You need that bit of luck especially when you play a side from a higher level."

Hucknall may be struggling to find the net in the league but strikers Leroy Chambers and Gary Ricketts looked sharp throughout this cup clash.

Chambers set up Russell Cooke on 10 minutes only to see the midfielder fire wide from the edge of the area while Ricketts missed a golden opportunity in the closing seconds, missing the target with the goal at his mercy.

Between these missed chances, Hucknall netted twice while Swifts were denied twice by the in-form McCarthy.

Matt Southwick's point blank effort was brilliantly saved on 17 minutes before Ricketts opened the scoring at the other end, finding the bottom corner on 34 minutes following good work by Chambers.

It was a similar tale after the break when Swifts penned the home side in their own goalmouth.

Lee Booth saw a goal bound effort superbly kept out by McCarthy on 51 minutes, moments after having another shot blocked on the line by defender Simon Brown. Brown then hoofed another effort away just as Willie Dunn looked set to score following good work by Simon Marsh and Booth.

After soaking up the pressure, Hucknall went upfield and wrapped up the game with a second goal on 71 minutes, Chambers scrambling the ball over the line.

Swifts: Clarke 7, Southwick 7, Charlton 7, Mulders 6, Davies 6, Shaw 6 (Hackett 75), Cowley 7 (Knight 59, 6), Nicholls 6 (Harvey 75), *Marsh 8, Booth 7, Dunn 7. Subs (not used): Townsend, Ulfig.