Tuesday 24th September 2024.          Southern League, Premier Division South.

Basingstoke Town 1 Walton & Hersham 0.

Swans’ ten match unbeaten run came to an end following their second league defeat of the season, with them also failing to score for the first time since that opening day loss at AFC Totton. A goal scored 21 minutes into a first-half in which Swans failed to get into their stride proved enough to give the home side the three points As at Poole the previous Saturday the match proved to be one of contrasting halves, but this time it was Swans who picked up their game in the second period. With four changes being made for that second-half they put on a much improved performance, dominating their opponents and playing some fine attacking football. They could not break down an uncompromising home defence however, with their attacks lacking a cutting edge without the considerable presence up-front of the suspended Dawid Rogalski.
Both Joey Jones and Nana Owusu were able to return to the starting line-up following injury.
Jos Barker was soon brought into action as ‘Stoke’s Liam Ferdinand and Dan Warre combined to set up Curtis Angell on the left edge of the box, and he struck a fine shot that looked destined for the far, top corner, but the Swans’ goalkeeper made a terrific save to turn the ball wide. Swans forced a corner on the left, but the home side were soon winning one of their own on the right, and when the ball was headed back across at the far-post Barker made a good take, picking up a knock that needed treatment. The Swans’ keeper made another good catch when Jones was penalised for a foul, and Rudy Allen delivered the free-kick into the box.
Swans threatened when Johl Powell’s run on the right led to Tom Olyott and Jaden Crowhurst combining well, and Crowhurst’s cross forcing a corner. Olyott’s kick was cleared in the 6 yard-box.
Basingstoke were awarded a free-kick two yards outside the right corner of the box, with Owusu being shown a yellow card. Max Smith struck the kick low, and Barker made another fine save, going down to his right to turn the ball wide of his far-post.
The corner resulted in the home side taking the lead, James Clark’s kick being met at the far-post by a firm header from Billy Upton.
Swans had a chance to equalise immediately. Powell got past Upton on the right to get into the box and lay the ball in to Dan Rowe unmarked at the near-post, but the former ‘Stoke player poked his shot wide.
The home side continued to look dangerous coming forward, and Barker had to punch away before being fouled when Angell crossed from the left. The Swans’ keeper then had to save at his near-post when Angell got into the left of the box to drive in a low shot.
With five minutes left to the break Swans built up a good move in the right of the box, and Crowhurst got to the byline to have a low cross cleared at the near-post, before forcing a corner.
‘Stoke’s Robbie Gallagher made a good run before being fouled out on the right, the resultant free-kick into the box being headed away.
Swans built up a good move, leading to Olyott making space on the right, but his cross went straight to home keeper Simon Grant.
Swans came out for the second-half having made four substitutions. Elliott Bolton, Lucas Defise, Mason Obeng and Adam Mekki all came on, with Crowhurst, Anis Nuur, Rowe and Owusu being the players replaced.
The revised line-up took a while to settle, and the home side twice had the opportunity to test Swans’ defence with free-kicks awarded deep on the right.
Swans gradually began to get their game together, and an excellent move led to Eoin Bolger and Powell combining in the box, and Powell getting to the left corner of the 6 yard-box to get in a low shot that Grant just kept out at his near-post. Obeng then made a fine run forward from deep in his own half before finding Powell on the right. Powell drove into the box to again test Grant with a low shot to the near-post. Some good interplay between Josh Tobin and Mekki led to Bolger getting to the left byeline, but Grant cut out his low cross. Olyott was fouled out on the right touchline, bringing Angell a booking, but keeper Grant was able to take the ball on his line when Olyott swung the free-kick in. Midway through the second-half Olyott picked up the ball deep in his own half to make a great run down the right that took him to the corner of the Basingstoke box. Olyott laid the ball across to Defise in the ‘D’ on the edge of the box, but he sent his shot dipping over. Swans continued to dominate, and another patient build-up led to Olyott getting in a shot from out on the right that Grant again got behind on his line.
With a quarter of an hour remaining the home side made a rare incursion into Swans’ final third to create an opportunity in the box, but the ball was blocked away.
Swans immediately built up another fine move that led to Defise finding Olyott by the right corner flag. Olyott laid the ball back to Bolton, and he sent an excellent left foot shot dipping towards the far, top corner, but Grant got across to make a fine tip-over save.
Bolton then drove a left foot shot over from 35 yards when Olyott laid the ball in to him from the right. Olyott and Bolton continued to combine well on the right, and Bolton’s low ball in led to a shot being blocked for a corner. Tobin then got forward and tried to lob Grant from distance, but the ‘Stoke keeper was able to get back.
As they continued to press for an equaliser Swans were in danger of being caught short at the back, and as the match entered the final five minutes Basingstoke’s Ben Cook got through into the left of the box, and he sent a low shot across goal and wide of the far-post.
With the first of the six minutes of allotted added-on time being played Defise was fouled 30 yards out to give Swans an opportunity from a free-kick, but Olyott drove the ball wide of the right post.
The home side then had a chance to settle it with a free-kick of their own, awarded on the right edge of the box, but the ball was driven well over.

Swans’ Team: Jos Barker, Jaden Crowhurst (Elliott Bolton 46’), Eoin Bolger, Joey Jones (Paul Field 83’), Archie Procter, Josh Tobin, Tom Olyott, Anis Nuur (Lucas Defise 46’), Dan Rowe (Mason Obeng 46’), Johl Powell, Nana Owusu (Adam Mekki 46’). Cautions: Owusu (20’), Tobin (89’), Procter (90+5’).
Basingstoke Town Team: Grant, Johnson-Schuster, Angell, Ball, Clark, Upton, Gallagher (Reid 90+2’), Allen (Dunn 86’), Warre (Nwachuku 68’), Ferdinand (Cook 82’), Smith (Brown 68’). Scorer: Upton (21’). Cautions: Angell (63’), Grant (77’), Clark (84’).