Prime started 2012 by hosting the league leaders at Cadogan on a relatively mild January afternoon. Prime had 17 players at one point this week but with several players dropping out including the hungover Gray, the home side had only 13 players at kick-off time, with Carl Barker turning up for the second half.

Without any recognised strikers, Goldsmith played the lone-ranger up front in a 4-5-1 formation, with Henshall pushed into a more advanced midfield role to support. Coleman stepped into central-midfield with Sander and Flamank down the wings.

Prime started with urgency but found themselves behind just 5 minutes in from Swan's first real attack. A deep curling ball to the back post was half headed clear by Ellis at full stretch, but the ball was volleyed back with interest by Swan's striker - giving Kerton no chance.

Prime's heads did not drop and they continued to dominate proceedings with Goldsmith winning every header and Henshall, Sander and Flamank latching onto the flick-ons.

Prime's greatest threat came from Goldsmith's long throws which he arrowed in low with the sun at his back - making life difficult for a shaky visiting keeper.

Flamank rose highest from one to nod just over the bar and then the roles were reversed on the half-hour mark when Goldsmith got a solid header onto Flamank's long throw and the ball beat the keeper and Swan's defender on the line made a hash of trying to hook it out of the net.

It was no more than Prime deserved with all 11 players putting in a committed performance that was typified by Coleman's impressive performance in the heart of the pitch and some strong but fair tackles from full-backs Barnham and Davis.

Prime thought they had the lead just before half-time when Cary nodded Goldsmith's latest delivery goalwards only for it to hit the hapless Sander and somehow stay out of the net.

At the break Prime knew that the game was theirs for the taking but they needed to carry on applying the pressure.

But Swan came out after the break a changed side and were firmly on the front foot. Ellis and Cary were at full stretch to keep the visiting strikers quiet and Kerton had to made an excellent save.

Swan came even closer to taking the lead when their striker beat Kerton but the ball rebounded back off the bar.

The reprieve seemed to spark Prime back into life and after Goldsmith was flattened just inside the Swan half, a back post delivery caused confusion in the Swan defence and Ellis was there to lash home and put Prime in front.

Fleming came on to replace Sander who had put in another solid shift down the right-wing - but it was not long before Swan deservedly equalised. Their midfielder cut inside and smashed a curling effort into the top corner from 25 yards.

Gilbert came on at right-back for Barnham as Prime sought to get their noses back in front, but Kerton was still the busier keeper and he produced a stunning point-blank save to keep The Numbers level.

The late-arriving Barker came on for the tiring Goldsmith but Prime were struggling to adapt to the different stature of striker up front and Barker was struggling to make much of the long balls hit up to him.

Swan took the lead with 10 minutes left as a near-post corner was turned in despite Cary's attempts on the line.

Prime sent Cary forward to join Barker but with gaps left at the back, Swan rounded off the scoring when their tall midfielder found space in the box to chip Kerton and seal the win.

The home side can take heart from another committed performance - if they had kept the tempo up for 90 minutes then it would have been a different story.