Tuesday 13th August 2024. Southern League, Premier Division South.
Walton & Hersham 3 Marlow 0.
Swans opened their home programme with a relatively comfortable win against newly promoted Marlow to put their first points on the board. After trailing 2-0 at the break the visitors came more into the game as an attacking force in the second-half, but Swans’ defence always looked composed, and dealt with any potential threat with little discomfort. That composure spread throughout the side, and there was some excellent play to satisfy the bumper crowd at The Hub, the only possible area of disappointment for most of those present being that more chances weren’t capitalised on.
There were two changes to the starting line-up at AFC Totton, Eoin Bolger recovering from injury to replace Elliott Bolton, who had suffered a broken nose in that opening game, and Nana Owusu coming in for Adam Mekki, who had come off with a tight hamstring. Owusu has happily returned on dual-registration after leaving over the summer to join National League South side Enfield Town,
The visitors were the first to threaten, forcing a corner on the right in the opening minute following Elijah Oladunjoye’s long throw, but the kick was hit too long.
Johl Powell was soon winning a corner on the right at the other end after being played to the byeline by Jaden Crowhurst, Swans’ first real venture into the Marlow half following a tentative opening. Another Oladunjoye long throw from the left was well dealt with at his near-post by Swans’ goalkeeper Jos Barker, while his opposite number in the Marlow goal, Aaron Watkins, saw his first serious action, cutting out a good cross from the right from Crowhurst, who had tried to find Dawid Rogalski in the box.
A soft free-kick was given against Paul Field, giving Marlow the opportunity to send the ball into the box from out on the left, but Josh Master’s delivery was well punched away by Barker under pressure.
Swans were immediately given an opportunity to take the lead when Mason Obeng won the ball off Masters on the right, and followed up by doing the same to Alex Salmon, but his attempt to find Rogalski in clear space in the box lacked accuracy and Watkins came out to make an easy claim. Watkins was soon being tested at his near-post, pushing the ball round when Lucas Defise played Powell into the left of the box to beat a couple of defenders and drive in a low, left foot shot. An excellent build-up led to Owusu making a good run on the left before laying inside to Powell, who had another shot blocked behind for a corner. Powell continued to threaten with tricky forward runs, and he was just denied in the box when Joey Jones’ ball down the right led to Rogalski cleverly hooking the ball in under pressure from keeper Watkins and a defender. Jones sent Owusu on a good run down the left, and his cross to the far-post had to be headed behind by Masters to deny Obeng.
Barker was again equal to a long throw from Marlow’s Oladunjoe from the left, claiming at his near-post, before Swans took the lead after 26 minutes. Crowhurst played a superb defence splitting pass to get Powell driving into the right of the box, and his low cross was turned in by Rogalski, who just got between a couple of defenders to score his first Swans’ goal against his former club.
It only took three minutes for it to become 2-0, with Powell deservedly getting on the scoresheet, driving low into the far corner from the right of the box following some fine, determined play and an astute pass from Defise.
Marlow wasted a rare opportunity by again delivering the ball too long after forcing a corner on the right, but Swans were firmly in control, and they should have made it 3-0 after 37 minutes. Crowhurst sent a long ball from deep on the right to pick out the run of Owusu. Keeper Watkins came dashing well out of his area but missed his clearance, leaving Owusu clear. The opening was there for a shot on goal, but Owusu unselfishly tried to pick out Rogalski unmarked in the box to his left, but a heavy first touch allowed a defender to block the ball, which spun towards goal, Watkins reacting well to get back and just tip it over.
Former Swans’ favourite Dave Tarpey tried a low, speculative shot from 35 yards for Marlow, but Barker saved comfortably down on his line.
In first-half stoppage-time Powell was fouled by Louis Rogers twelve yards outside the box, giving Swans a free-kick in an ideal position for Owusu, but he drove the ball straight through to Watkins.
Swans went close to making it 3-0 early in the second-half when a neat triangle played between Defise, Owusu and Rogalski on the edge of the box got Defise in at the left post, but Watkins was able to block his shot.
Marlow were awarded a somewhat soft free-kick deep on the left, and this almost led to them scoring. Masters delivery to the far-post was not gathered by Barker under pressure from Oladunjoye, and both he and Ben Mulley seemed to impede each other as the ball was poked wide.
Field sent a fine long ball down the right from deep in his own half to send Obeng on a run into the edge of the box, but Watkins was quickly across to put the ball into touch.
Marlow had begun to get some impetus down the right through Kai Hamilton-Olise, and Rhys Harper sent him clear. Harper was in the box to get on the end of his low cross, but Field got across to make an excellent block.
Swans immediately made a triple change with an hour played, Anis Nuur, Cam Thompson and Bolton coming on to replace Jones, Crowhurst and Obeng.
Hamilton-Olise made another good run for Marlow that took him to the right corner of the box, but Archie Procter spotted the danger and came across to clear. Oladunjoye twice launched a long throw, from the right and then the left, but Swans were able to clear both. Midway through the half Hamilton-Olise again got clear on the right, and he laid the ball low across to pick out Brandon Curtis by the penalty-spot. Field could not prevent the Marlow player getting a shot away, but his shot went over, and with a corner being awarded it seemed Barker had got a touch to make a fine save.
With 77 minutes played Alex Body came on for Swans, with Owusu coming off.
The game had lost a lot of momentum, but with ten minutes remaining Powell made a terrific run down the right from halfway to force a corner.
Marlow had a free-kick deep on the left, but Barker imposed himself by superbly cutting out the delivery into the box.
Field played a fine ball to send Powell on another driving run down the right, and his attempt to pick out Rogalski unmarked on the edge of the 6 yard-box was well read by Salmon, who just cut out the cross before it could reach the Swans’ striker. Bolton played a one-two with Delise from the resultant corner before crossing to the near-post, where Thompson sent a glancing header over. Body was pushed over on the left by Oladunjoye, giving Swans a free-kick outside the corner of the box, but Nuur’s shot was blocked by two Marlow defenders standing no more than three yards away. With stoppage-time being played Thompson forced a corner on the right, the visitors’ defence being pressured to concede two more in succession.
Swans finally got their third goal in the fifth minute of stoppage-time when Bolton played Thompson down the right to cross into the box. Oladunjoye failed to cut out the cross, and Body was behind him, close to the penalty-spot, to side-foot the ball into the bottom, right corner for his first Swans’ goal, and to equal the score on Marlow’s last visit two seasons ago. There was just time to kick-off before the final whistle blew/
Swans Team: Jos Barker, Paul Field, Eoin Bolger, Joey Jones (Anis Nuur 60’), Archie Procter, Lucas Defise, Jaden Crowhurst (Elliott Bolton 60’), Mason Obeng (Cameron Thompson 60’), Dawid Rogalski, Johl Powell, Nana Owusu (Alex Body 77’). Sub. not used: Alex Andreou. Scorers: Rogalski (26’), Powell (29’), Body (90+5’). Cautions: Jones, Defice, Powell, Bolton, Bolger.
Marlow Team: Watkins, Oladunjoye, Masters (Jallow 74’), Rogers, Salmon, Tarpey (Harper 54’), Curtis, Jones, Raggett (Nawaf 60’), Mulley, Hamilton-Olise. Subs. not used: Chitepo, Ovenden. Cautions: Masters, Curtis, Nawaf.