Saturday 24th August 2024. Southern League, Premier Division South.
Wimborne Town 0 Walton & Hersham 4.
Swans kept up their 100% record on their visits to Dorset with an excellent win over the newly promoted Magpies. Both sides had won two and lost one of their opening three matches, and for some time first-time opponents Wimborne made sure it was not easy for Swans to prevent them going ahead in the table, going close on several occasions in the first-half. Swans however made the most of their opportunities to take a 2-0 lead at half-time, and a third goal ten minutes into the second-half, followed by the home side having a player sent off, effectively clinched the win.
There was one change to the starting line-up, with Anis Nuur coming in for Lucas Defise, while Adam Mekki returned, replacing the injured Josh Tobin on the bench.
Swans started positively, but the home side gradually began to press, and had the first opportunity, Jez Bedford cutting in on the right to have a low shot blocked round at the near-post by Archie Procter. From the right-side corner Connor Cocklin was at the far-post to send a header against the bar, although goalkeeper Jos Barker looked like he would have got fingers to the ball. Wimborne soon had a free-kick in a good position just outside the right-corner of the box. The shot took a big deflection, and the ball looped to the far-post, where Billy Walker headed back across. A follow-up half volley came in from the right, and Dawid Rogalski was well-placed at the near-post to make a good block on the line.
Swans built up a fine move, and Nana Owusu got through to the left byeline to get the ball over, and Mason Obeng was in the right of the box to have a volley blocked. Owusu then played Johl Powell clear to round home keeper Ross Flitney and net, but the flag was up for offside. Swans continued to look dangerous coming forward, and following another fine passage of play Powell made a run clear on the right, but his cross was hit too long.
The Magpies had another free-kick opportunity when Elliott Bolton fouled Bedford outside the right of the box and picked up the afternoon’s first booking. Barker was able to punch clear at the far-post when Matt Neale delivered the ball into the box. The Swans’ keeper was then at the far-post to get across and claim when Josh Carmichael drove the ball across from the left touchline.
Swans continued to threaten, and a fine piece of play in the right of the box led to Obeng almost setting up Rogalski in the middle, but he was just denied. Bolton and Nuur linked up well on the left, but after cutting inside Nuur shot well over the far, top corner. Jaden Crowhurst and Powell combined on the right for Crowhurst to have his cross blocked for a corner, but Owusu’s in-swinging kick was well taken under the bar at his far-post by Fllitney. With half an hour played Bolton was on the left to find Rogalski in the box, but he just failed to open up the shot and was finally closed out.
Matt Burrows made a good run into the right of the box for Wimborne, and Nuur did well to get across and block for a corner. From the kick Cocklin was at the far-post to send a header looping onto the top of the net.
Swans then made the breakthrough with ten minutes left of the half. Rogalski won the ball and found Nuur, who set up Owusu on the left. Owusu cut across just inside the box and was tripped by Neale. Owusu took the penalty himself, and drove the ball firmly into the top, right corner.
Powell had been a constant threat with his runs on the right for Swans, and he was again found by Crowhurst’s long ball down the line. Powell superbly burst between Cocklin and Sam Jackson to try to find Rogalski in the 6 yard-box, but he was blocked, and Obeng followed up to have a low shot kicked off the line at the far-post by Harvey Wright.
Swans were grateful to their keeper Barker for keeping them in the lead as the home side had a rare opportunity. A move broke down, and this led to Wimborne getting possession and Cameron Munn playing a good ball through to send Burrows clear, but Barker came off his line to make a great block.
With the half entering added-on time Swans made it 2-0 with a superbly constructed goal. The move started with a terrific diagonal ball from deep on the left by Joey Jones that picked out Obeng on the right. Obeng brought the ball down superbly before playing a one-two with Crowhurst, and then laying back to Jones. The Swans’ skipper played a fine ball through to Powell on the right byeline, and although his low cross was blocked at the near-post by Cocklin, Nuur followed up to drive the ball into the top, right corner.
The home side tried to hit back, and a shot in the box was again blocked by Barker.
Swans were soon putting together a sweeping move in the second-half that led to Jones driving a shot over from 35 yards.
The home side forced a corner on the left, but Burrows’ kick was cleared at the near-post by Rogalski, and Paul Field tidied up when Burrows broke into the left of the box to drive in a low cross.
Swans made it 3-0 after 54 minutes with another excellent goal. Obeng won the ball deep in his own half on the right before getting forward and sending Powell down the line. Powell drove past the challenge of Cocklin and into the box before sending a pinpoint cross to the far-post that Wright could not cut out, and Rogalski was behind him to thump a header home, a just reward for the Swans’ striker who had been a constant threat all match.
Swans soon made their first change, with Mekki coming on for Owusu.
Wimborne had a chance when Barker’s clearance could only find Will Fletcher, but he spurned a good opportunity by shooting over.
Eoin Bolger then came on to replace Crowhurst for Swans.
Barker was soon making a good take high up at his near-post when Wimborne sent in a dangerous ball from the left.
The home side then had to play out the final quarter of the match a player short. Rogalski made a great tackle to win the ball midway in his own half and Obeng was able to break forward, before being cynically brought down by Walker. Having already been booked in first-half added-on time the Magpies’ No.4 was shown a second yellow card, followed by a red.
Swans almost capitalised straight away as Mekki made a run into the left of the box, but his low ball in was just blocked round the near-post.
Swans made their third and fourth substitutions, with Defise replacing Powell, and Cam Thompson coming on for Obeng. Defise was soon getting in on the right byeline to have a low cross cleared at the near-post. Swans then made their final change with Alex Body coming on for Jones, and with five minutes of normal-time remaining he had a chance to make it 4-0. Rogalski got to the edge of the box to have a shot blocked, leaving Body with a follow-up chance, but he shot over. Thompson then got into the right of the box, but he was just denied by Cocklin and had to settle for a corner.
Thompson had posed a threat after coming on, and deservedly got the goal to make it 4-0 in the 90th minute. Nuur clipped a great ball over the top to send Thompson clear into the right of the box, and he calmly passed the ball inside the near-post.
Swans’ Team: Jos Barker, Paul Field, Elliott Bolton, Joey Jones (Alex Body 78’), Archie Procter, Anis Nuur, Jaden Crowhurst (Eoin Bolger 66’), Mason Obeng (Cameron Thompson 73’), Dawid Rogalski, Johl Powell (Lucas Defise 73’), Nana Owusu (Adam Mekki 58’). Scorers: Owusu, penalty (36’), Nuur (45+1’), Rogalski (54’), Thompson (90’). Caution: Bolton, foul (19’).
Wimborne Team: Flitney, Jackson, Walker, Cocklin, Wright, Carmichael (Scorey 53’), Bedford (Mdialose 81’), Munn (Roberts 73’), Fletcher, Neale (Biss 73’), Burrows (Ryan 58’). Cautions: Munn, foul (72’), Scorey, foul (83’). Dismissal: Walker, 2 cautions for fouls (45+3’ & 68’).
