Heybridge Swifts slither to defeat at a soggy Bowers & Pitsea

Anyone know where the ball is? Action from Bowers & Pitsea and Heybridge Swifts at the Len Salmon Stadium (Image: Archant)

Heybridge Swifts suffered their first defeat of 2017, beaten by promotion-chasing Bowers & Pitsea at a rain-soaked Len Salmon Stadium tonight.

Jody Brown’s men, on a five-game unbeaten run, gave a good account of themselves but were undone by second-half goals from Lewis Manor and Billy Jones.

Right-sided midfielder Manor broke the deadlock by racing through to bury a low shot into the far corner of the net in the 48th minute.

And the Swifts’ hopes of rescuing a point were dashed by a second goal in the 80th minute. Brad Warner’s inswinging corner sneaked in at the near post, with substitute Jones seeming to get the last touch.

It was a very even first-half contest, played on a soggy pitch due to all the recent rain – the pitch had passed a midday inspection.

Swifts’ midfield playmaker, George Cole, had some early joy with a strong run and powerful angled drive that was deflected across the face of goal and wide.

The Swifts had to soak up some pressure, before midfielder Lewis Godbold turned neatly on the edge of the box, only to balloon his shot over the bar on 25 minutes.

Bowers registered the game’s first shot on target, in the 27th minute, keeper Danny Sambridge getting down well to cling onto David Knight’s ferocious effort.

Smart play by visiting striker Adam Yussuf nearly lead to a goal, just before the half-hour mark. He lashed his final shot over the bar from an acute angle.

The Swifts’ best effort of the first half was a superb 20-yarder by Cole which flew only a foot wide off target.

However, Bowers grabbed the all-important opening goal, just three minutes into the second half, with Manor the marksman.

The hosts searched for a quickfire second, and Sambridge had to be alert to keep out Knight’s deflected shot in the 58th minute.

The Swifts had their chances. Cole’s long-range shot was pushed around his post by keeper Rhys Maddon on the hour mark, and a spectacular 25-yarder from Lewis Godbold was blocked by Maddon’s strong hands, in front of his post.

But a late second killed off the Swifts.

HEYBRIDGE: Sambridge, Ramon (sub Hornsley, 90), Cawley, Morgan (sub Little, 72), Njic, Anderson, Dark, Godbold, Yussuf, Cole (sub Grant, 69), Bolle. Unused subs: Andrews, Smith.