STOURPORT Swifts were denied a vital victory in their Midland Alliance promotion battle by a controversial late equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Stourbridge.

Leading 2-1 going into the final five minutes, a Kevin Casson shot appeared to be going wide until it struck Chris-ty McKenzie and flew into the net with keeper Rob Clarke wrong-footed.

Clarke's appeals for handball earned him a yellow card from referee David Bennett who, ten minutes earlier, dished out a red card to Stourport midfielder Matt Southwick.

The home side took a deserved lead on 13 minutes when Mc-Kenzie fired home.

But Lee Booth steered home the equaliser three minutes later by drilling a shot into the bottom corner.

This lifted promotion-chasing Swifts and they added a second on 48 minutes when Booth notched from the penalty spot following a handball by Leroy Murphy.

The second half saw Stourbridge in control and Clarke had to make an excellent reflex save from Lewis Baker's powerful volley before McKenzie's late leveller.

Pegasus Juniors crashed to their heaviest defeat of the season, 8-1 at Swindon Supermarine in the Cherry Red Records Hellenic League Premier Division. Laurence Helme scored their goal.