Tuesday 22nd October 2024.              Southern League, Premier Division South.

Frome Town 2 Walton & Hersham 2.

Swans made the long midweek trip back from Somerset having been denied their first win in seven games by another late goal, They will certainly be glad to get back on home territory, with six of the matches in that winless run having been played on the road, Once again they had played well, taking a deserved lead after falling behind inside the first two minutes, but they again could not turn their superiority into further goals, and a home side determined to improve on their poor start to the season hit back with that late equaliser. It was certainly a game of contrasting styles, Swans pressing with their controlled, close-passing game and their hosts sitting back and breaking with long balls out of defence.
Selection possibilities were limited, with three players serving bans. Josh Tobin was completing his three match suspension, while both Elliott Bolton and Eoin Bolger were out for one. Jos Barker had however been recalled from his loan at Hartley Wintney and retook his place in goal, justifying his return with a fine game.
Swans got off to the worst possible start on their first visit to Badgers Hill as The Robins’ Marcus Day got down the right to drive the ball in low to the near-post, where James Ollis got between Paul Field and Junior Eccleston to stab home.
Jordan Esprit forced a corner on the right for Swans, but the home side soon won one of their own. Sam Teale played the ball down the left for Field to head away to Ollis 25 yards out, and his shot took a deflection off Eccleston to dip over.
Swans had begun to settle, and after ten minutes a fine move got Eccleston through to the right byeline, but his cutback could not pick out a teammate.
The equaliser came two minutes later however. The ball was nodded down by Dawid Rogalski in the centre-circle to Nana Owusu on his right, who then played the ball back to his teammate. Rogalski then picked out the run of Owusu into the right of the box with a terrific through ball, and he drove a low shot just inside the far-post.
Some slack play by Swans deep on the right gave away a throw-in that Day took quickly to send Ollis driving down the right, past Joey Jones and into the box, but he shot wide of the near-post.
Swans built up a good move on the left that led to Esprit cutting inside and sending a low shot wide of the near-post from the edge of the box.
Frome continued to be dangerous on the break, and Barker had to punch away at his near-post when the ball was played in from the left.
Esprit forced another corner for Swans, and he was then fouled 20 yards outside the box on the left. Tom Olyott delivered the free-kick to the edge of the 6 yard-box for Rogalski to get his head to the ball, but it looped straight into the gloves of home keeper Kyle Phillips.
With half an hour played Owusu was judged to have fouled 35 yards out, giving Frome a free-kick in a dangerous position, but Day curled the ball wide of the left post.
Esprit continued to be a threat for Swans, and following Archie Procter’s throw-in on the left he made a clever run to the edge of the box to get in a low shot that took a deflection off a home defender, and the ball went wide of the near-post and behind for a corner. Swans continued to press, forcing two more corners in quick succession. Rogalski and Esprit then combined to almost get Johl Powell through, but he was just closed out in the box. Jones drove forward from the centre-circle to drive in a shot from 35 yards that stung the hands of keeper Phillips, who beat the ball down in the 6 yard-box. Powell followed up, but had the ball taken off his feet to just deny him a shot on goal.
Swans went close to taking the lead five minutes after the resumption when Powell fed Olyott on the left. Olyott got past Jac Poffley and to the edge of the box, but his left foot shot was just inches away from finding the far, top corner. Swans looked to be denied a goal after Jones was fouled ten yards outside the left corner of the box. Olyott swung the free-kick to the far-post, where Esprit came in to make contact and Phillips to block. Powell followed up on the edge of the box to drive the ball in, but the assistant referee’s flag went up, presumably for offside, a decision that was obscure in the extreme.
Frome almost capitalised on their escape when Rex Mannings got forward before finding Day on the right, and he drove the ball into the 6 yard-box. Field blocked the ball away, but Mannings followed up to drive in a low, left foot shot that took a slight deflection, and Barker made a fine save down at his left post.
With mist beginning to envelop the pitch, just past the hour Swans again went close to taking the lead. Powell fed Rogalski in the right of the box, but he seemed to lose his footing as he slid the ball just wide of the near-post.
There was then a remarkable incident that almost led to Frome taking a fortuitous lead. The referee got in the way of Lucas Defise by the centre-spot, causing the Swans’ midfielder to lose possession. Instead of stopping play the referee allowed it to continue and Frome to break and find Day on the right. Day cut inside along the edge of the box to get in a good, left foot shot that brought a terrific save from Barker, diving to his right to punch the ball away. Frome then forced a corner on the right, leading to a header being put wide at the far-post.
Swans at last got the goal they deserved with just over twenty minutes remaining when Rogalski was fouled deep on the right. Olyott sent in the free-kick, and when Rogalski got his head to the ball on the edge of the 6 yard-box Jones dived in at the far-post. Jones’ header brought a fine save from keeper Phillips, who pushed the ball on to the base of the post, but Esprit followed in to net.
Eccleston found Esprit in space on the left, and his cross picked out the run of Rogalski to the penalty-spot, but his glancing header sent the ball bouncing into the gloves of Phillips.
Anis Nuur came on for Olyott, followed shortly by Dan Rowe replacing Rogalski. Owusu won the ball on the right to play Rowe into the box, but Phillips came across to block.
Swans had deserved to come away with the three points, but with seven minutes of normal-time remaining they were hit with a Frome equaliser. Albie Hopkins delivered a free-kick from deep into the box, and Barker brought off a fine save when a shot came in from the edge of the 6 yard-box. The ball ran loose however, and Curtis Hutson followed up to beat the Swans’ keeper.
Frome were spurred to go for a winner, and they broke down the left to cross low to the far-post, where Hutson side-footed the ball over the bar. Swans were now under pressure to hold on, and they were fortunate when Barker came out of his box to clear, but failed to get to the ball. The Swans’ keeper then had to punch away at the near-post when a corner was delivered from the right.
It was Swans however who had the last opportunity to win the match when Powell got down the right to play the ball in low, but it was just put round the near-post for a corner.

Swans’ Team: Jos Barker, Paul Field, Archie Procter, Joey Jones, Junior Eccleston, Lucas Defise (Mason Obeng 90+1’), Tom Olyott (Anis Nuur 74’), Jordan Esprit, Dawid Rogalski (Dan Rowe 77’), Johl Powell, Nana Owusu. Sub. not used: Darren Simpson. Scorers: Owusu (12’), Esprit (69’).
Frome Town Team: Phillips, Wood, Teale, Budd, Drew, Day (McKayle 90+4’), Poffley (Hutson 74’), Vaughan, Mannings, Monks, Ollis (Hopkins 74’). Subs. not used: Tylek, Murchison. Scorers: Ollis (2’), Hutson (83’). Cautions: Day, kicked ball away (42’), Teale, foul (63’).