Tuesday 29th October 2024.                 Surrey Senior Cup, 1st Round.

Walton & Hersham 9 Sutton Common Rovers 0.

Swans made easy progress through to the next round of the County Cup against a young Rovers’ side as they enjoyed a return to the Hub after playing six away games in seven. The goal tally could well have ended up even higher, as there were numerous other scoring opportunities, with the goal-frame being struck no fewer than three times. Dawid Rogalski got back on the goal-sheet with a hat-trick that could easily been a double one.
Tom Olyott on the right was an immediate problem for the visitors, their keeper just denying Mason Obeng from his cross, and Johl Powell being set up in the right of the box to get in a shot that brought a smart save. Powell just failed to capitalise from a defensive mix-up in the box, and from Olyott’s resultant corner Rogalski put a free header over. Anis Nuur tested the keeper from outside the box, and following another corner the returning Josh Tobin sent a good shot just wide. Rogalski will be disappointed to put another chance over from the edge of the 6 yard-box after Joey Jones’ fine cross-field ball had found Obeng on the left to get in a cross. Nuur sent another shot wide, and when Rogalski had a shot blocked in the box, he put another good chance wide when the ball came back to him.
Swans had camped in the visitors’ half from the opening whistle, and it surprisingly took until midway through the first-half before they made the breakthrough, Rogalski nodding home when Nuur crossed from the left of the box.
Olyott’s far-post volley from another Nuur left-side cross brought a fine block from the keeper, and Tobin followed up to put the ball over.
The second goal came after 25 minutes, Rogalski netting after Jones had met Olyott’s right-side corner at the far-post.
Rogalski looked certain to get his hat-trick when he was played clear, but hesitation allowed the keeper to fall on the ball.
Swans’ pressure paid off again as the half entered the final five minutes, Nuur following up to score after Tobin’s shot from outside the box had been saved.
It was 4-0 in added-on time when Rogalski stabbed home to complete his hat-trick.
There was still time left for Olyott to send a terrific shot against the underside of the bar from the right of the box.
Swans made a change for the second-half, with Lucas Defise coming on for Jones, and after Rovers had surprisingly forced a corner, their incessant pressure continued, the fifth goal coming seven minutes in. Obeng got in on the left byeline, leading to Rogalski’s shot being kept out by a handball on the line. The offending defender was shown a red card and Powell drove home the penalty.
Swans immediately made a double change, with Nana Owusu and Alex Body replacing Powell and Rogalski.
Another penalty looked nailed on when Olyott was brought down in the right of the box, but the referee did not concur.
It was 6-0 after 57 minutes however, when Nuur got into the right of the 6 yard-box to force an own goal into the far-corner.
Swans forced a further succession of corners, one leading to Tobin driving over after Owusu had laid the kick back to him on the edge of the box.
The seventh goal came with a quarter of the game left, Body driving a shot low into the far corner from the right of the box.
Swans then made their final change, with U18 player Liam O’Neill coming on for Paul Field.
Body should have made it 8-0, but put the ball over an open goal after Olyott laid the ball in from the right. With a quarter of an hour remaining Owusu drove into the left of the box to send a thunderous shot against the bar. Obeng then sent the ball just wide with an extravagant overhead kick from Nuur’s right-side cross.
With ten minutes of normal-time left Body broke on the right to lay in to Nuur, who set himself to score and make it 8-0.
Body then made it nine, tapping home after Owusu drove in on the left byeline to set him up in front of goal.
It looked certain to be double figures, but after getting into the right of the box, Olyott again drove in a shot that rattled the crossbar.

Swans’ Team: Jos Barker, Paul Field (Liam O’Neill 69’), Eoin Bolger, Joey Jones (Lucas Defise 46’), Elliott Bolton, Josh Tobin, Mason Obeng, Anis Nuur, Dawid Rogalski (Alex Body 53’), Johl, Powell (Nana Owusu 53’), Tom Olyott. Sub. not used: Jordan Esprit. Scorers: Rogalski (22’, 25’ & 45+1’), Nuur (41’ & 80’), Powell, penalty (52’), Own goal (57’), Body (68’ & 82’).
Sutton Common Rovers’ Team: Staussi, Foli, Crowder, Awoleke, Zamorano, Jordan, Roni Bedir, Aziz, Turay, Kouassi, Wells. Subs: Bankole, Alleyne, Iqbal, Oliveira, Sangarl. Dismissal: Foli (51’).