A LAPSE in concentration cost Malvern Town dear as Stourport Swifts snatched a 2-1 win in the first leg of their Worcester Royal Infirmary Cup semi-final.

Having trailed for more than an hour Malvern appeared to have given themselves a psychological edge in the tie when Lewis Platt levelled on 87 minutes.

But all their hard work was undone a minute later when Matthew Fulloway scrambled home the winner at the HDanywhere Community Stadium on Wednesday.

And manager Les Jones could not hide his frustration at the result after claiming his side “totally dominated” the second period.

“I was really annoyed as we just switched off,” he said.

“They started better than we did as they were a bit quicker and sharper in the first 25 minutes.

“They edged it at half-time but in the second half we totally dominated as it was just attack and attack from us.

“But after we got the equaliser we mentally switched off.

“They took a quick free-kick, moved it down the side, crossed it in and scored which was frustrating.”

However, Jones is optimistic about his side’s chances of beating the Midland League Premier Division outfit in the second leg.

“It’s a two-legged affair and we are only one down,” he said.

“Stourport are in the league above but we were better than them for nearly half the match.

“It will be tough as they will have home advantage but we have got two or three players to come back whereas they looked to be at full strength.”

Top scorer Dave Reynolds, who came on for the last 30 minutes, is set to start tomorrow when Malvern travel to West Midlands League Premier Division bottom club Gornal Athletic (3pm).

Striker Bryan Craven (toe) and midfielder Mason Mansfield (back) are doubts, while forward Matt Turner is out through suspension.

But midfielder Nathan Hayward and striker Matt Pinder are expected to return as fifth-placed Town look to get their league campaign back on track.

Gornal languish at the foot of the table on four points and crashed 6-0 at Malvern in October.

But having suffered a shock 2-1 loss to lowly Dudley Sports last month Jones insisted Town could not afford to slip up again.

“It is absolutely a must-win game for us,” Jones added.

“Nothing but a win would be acceptable.

“We failed against Dudley Sports, who were down towards the bottom, but we have to win tomorrow.

“Whether it’s through great football or ugly football we have got to get a result to get us back to winning ways in the league.”