Key players return at right time for Swifts

A stoppage-time goal saw the Swifts beaten 4-3 at Cogenhoe United on Saturday, but the silver lining for the Town manager was seeing Lee Tyers and Shaquille O’Neil-Brooks return to the starting XI.

Tyers, who was injured in the 2-2 draw with Harborough Town in December, was on the scoresheet while O’Neil-Brooks made his first start since almost the beginning of the season.

“We’ve not won many without him,” Dixon said of Tyers.

“He showed how important he is to us with his performance and goal on Saturday. He was fantastic.

“He gives us something to build on. The same with Shaquille, who’s just come back after being out since August.

“They’re important players with a lot of experience.”

The Swifts host Sleaford Town at Kong Park on Saturday (KO 3pm).

The Greens have bolstered their squad in recent weeks and moved off the bottom of the United Counties League Premier Division table, overtaking Pinchbeck United.

“It’s an important game for us,” Dixon added.

“It’s been a long time since we won and we need to get a win to pick the mood up in the camp.

“Sleaford are near the bottom but they’re much improved.

“I remember going there in November, winning 5-0, and saying it wasn’t good enough. I’d take a 1-0 right now just to win the game.”

Justin Peace netted a brace for Lutterworth at Cogenhoe on Saturday before being sent off for what Dixon described as a ‘horrible tackle’.

Nathanial Ansu won it for United with his second of the game in the 91st minute, Jake Gillingwater and Michael Cirelli also on target as Town made it five games without a win.

“It’s certainly not something I’ve ever been used to in football. Even playing before I managed Lutterworth,” said Dixon.

“It’s very difficult at the moment and we need to come up with answers as a group.

“We’ve had long-term injuries but we’re picking up stupid suspensions and that’s not helping the team.

“We threw away the lead twice and then lost in the last minute, that sums up the last few months.

“We’re dropping too many points in the last minute. Last season we were winning in the last minute and it suggests maybe the mentality has changed.”