Harry Fay's side now need something from Thursday's visit to Ballymena to stay in the competition after two straight defeats in their opening outings.

The only goal of the game came on 64 minutes when Northern Ireland U21 international Thomas Stewart met a low Stephen Douglas cross from the right to turn the ball home from close range.

The Blues might have moved in front inside the opening ten minutes when Stewart fired just wide while moments later Glenn Ferguson forced Dwayne Nelson into an excellent save to keep out his free-kick.

The chance of the half, though, fell to Swifts starlet Mark McAllister who saw his goalbound effort well saved by Alan Mannus.

Aidan O'Kane came close for the visitors on 55 minutes with a reaction shot only for it drift wide but they only had to wait a little while longer for Stewart to finally make the breakthrough.

Peter Thompson almost made it 2-0 six minutes later when he flicked the ball over Nelson but again it went wide of the target.