Swans through to play-off final

GEORGE Teeney bagged a double for Stapenhill in their Midland League Division One play-off semi-final win against Ashby.

Jack Henchcliffe and Zaki Evans were also on target as the Swans won 4-2, although they finished with 10 men after Connor Richins was sent off in the second half. Luke Thorogood and Jake Conkay replied for Ashby.

The Swans will now face Darlaston Town at the Payacre Stadium, Walsall, in tomorrow’s play-off final (3pm).

In front of a large crowd at Edge Hill, Stapenhill started brightly and after six minutes Teeney was through but keeper Tommy Dyche raced off his line to make a vital save.

And a dangerous cross from Charlie Rumin moments later was nodded narrowly wide by Teeney.

But the Swans were ahead in the ninth minute when Richins’ through ball released Teeney who raced clear, brushed off a defender and calmly fired into the bottom corner.

At the other end Swans keeper Paul Hollis had to be alert to keep out a decent strike from Will Robson before the home side doubled their lead in the 17th minute.

Richins fed Henchcliffe whose pace took him clear. The Ashby keeper got a hand to the shot but the ball looped up and dropped into an unmanned net.

The visitors tried to respond, with Sam Grouse firing over before a Conkay free kick was headed wide by Nathan Macallister.

Hollis then saved in quick succession from Liam Donaghy and Robson.

Back came the Swans, with Rumin driving a shot over before a fine long-range strike from Henchcliffe fizzed past the top corner.

After a half-time pep talk, the visitors pulled a goal back in the 46th minute.

After a smart move, Thorogood raced on to a through ball to calmly slot past Hollis.

In the 55th minute, the Swans looked to be up against it when Richins was shown a straight red card for an alleged push on Thorogood.

Despite being down to 10 men, the Swans took the game to the visitors.

Five minutes after the dismissal, they scored again. A poor clearance by keeper Dyche was not dealt with by a defender, who was pickpocketed by Teeney.

He again used his strength to shrug off another defender and bend the ball into the far bottom corner.

It was game over in the 69th minute when Henchcliffe clipped a free kick in and it was met by Zaki Evans, who half-volleyed the ball past the keeper at his near post.

Two minutes from time, a Chris Acott free kick was converted by Conkay but it was all too little, too late for the visitors.