STOURPORT Swifts scored two late goals as they came from behind to beat Malvern Town in an entertaining pre-season friendly on Saturday.
Swifts led 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Jack Bailey and Daniele Reka but Malvern responded after the break and scored three goals in 12 second-half minutes through Matt Turner's penalty, a Harry Clark chip and a goal from one of the trialists to lead 3-2 .
Swifts' Lee Chilton picked out the top corner from a free-kick 25 yards out to level it up once more before Jack Arnold's solo effort two minutes from time won it for the hosts.
Our third goal in the 4-3 win against @MalvernTown1946 yesterday was bent into the top bins by no other than @Leechilton2 ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/prvlQQoe16
— Stourport Swifts FC (@StourportSwifts) July 16, 2023
Swifts dominated the opening stages against a much-changed Malvern side and took the lead in the 19th minute when Bailey's looping header dipped underneath the crossbar after an initial shot rebounded off the post.
That lead was doubled just after the half-hour mark when Reka applied the finishing touches to a low cross from the left.
Malvern improved toward the end of the half and ex-Stourport man Jordan Annear twice went close to halving the deficit for his new side but the score remained 2-0 at half-time.
The Hillsiders pushed after the restart and went agonisingly close to pulling one back when Matt Turner's shot hit the post and Annear's rebound was cleared off the line.
The visitors did get a deserved goal in the 56th minute as another former Swift, Jack Watts, was pulled down in the box and Turner made no mistake from the spot.
Eight minutes later, Town were level when Trialist B fired home with his first touch after being brought on as a substitute and that was soon followed by Clark's brilliant chip over the home keeper to complete the comeback and put Malvern 3-2 up.
But the home side responded well and it was a glorious free-kick from Chilton to square things up at 3-3. He stepped up and curled a left-footed shot into the top left corner from 25 yards in classic Chilton fashion.
The winner was perhaps the best of the lot as Arnold managed to swat aside a number of attempted tackles to weave his way into the box before sliding the ball into the net for the winning goal.
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