Simon Parker's last minute close range header gave Swifts all three points at Croydon on Monday, a game from which the home side justifiably will say they should have had some reward, and the skills of Parker enlivened an otherwise drab evening.

The 'Journey from Hell' endured by Swifts players Ian Wiles, Terry Warwick and Andy Tomlinson saw them arrive just before kick off, disrupting manager Liam Cutbush's plans and seeing the three young players all starting on the substitutes bench.

Croydon took the lead in the fifth minute, when a Croydon forward took advantage of some slack marking to head the ball home.

Glenn Moss was sacrificed shortly afterwards and Ian Wiles came on to add balance to the defence.

Although numerous opportunities were created it took until the 43rd minute before the visitors equlaised, Chris Payne's deep cross reaching the unmarked John Pollard who slotted the ball home well.

Swifts were not at their most fluent, with the ball spending too much time in the air, but when it was played on the floor and to feet, the skills of Parker and others left the home defence mesmerised.

The second half was a real battle as Croydon were driven on by former Newcastle United and Charlton Athletic midfielder Peter Garland.

It needed Kingsley Banks to be at his best with a series of fine saves and safe handling to keep his side in the match.

Pollard was dominating the midfield exchanges but Mark Kane was unable to get into the game in the second half, the ball spending most of the time above his head.

Parker's curling free kick was tipped over the bar by the Croydon goalkeeper at full stretch and it looked as if it was not to be Swifts day

Just as the supporters were contemplating the pleasures of the bar, Payne delivered in a high quality corner and Gary Waters rose above the home defence to head goalwards, Parker delivering the final flourish from 18 inches to get Swifts out of jail.

It is a great habit to be be able to win when not playing at your best and this match was a prime example; the sort of match that in the past Swifts would have lost but this team is made of sterner stuff and the win took them up to fifth place in the league.

Heybridge Swifts: Banks, Wall, Moss (Wiles, 7 mins), Caton, Waters, Pollard, Payne, Parker, Gillespie (Warwick, 80 mins), Lee and Kane. Unused Substitute: Tomlinson.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.