Saturday 9th November 2024.            Southern League, Premier Division South.

Hungerford Town 1 Walton & Hersham 1.

In the corresponding fixture last season Nana Owusu’s superbly struck free-kick won the match for Swans with seven minutes of normal-time remaining. This time they had a free-kick a few yards closer, but it was in the 86th minute, and they needed to score to rescue a point. Tom Olyott took responsibility this time, and he found the top, left corner with an excellent strike. It was the least Swans deserved from a match they had dominated for long periods, and during which they had three firm claims for a penalty denied. They will feel disappointed however that for all their possession they could not create much in the way of scoring opportunities. Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested all match, and if Swans were to concede it was likely to come from a corner or free-kick delivered into their box. That proved to be the case as the home side took the lead following a corner after 56 minutes.
Swans’ selection possibilities were strictly limited, with Junior Eccleston and Elliott Bolton both injured, and Jordan Esprit and Paul Field dropping to the bench, but unlikely to be used as they were not fully fit. Alex Andreou was recalled to make his first start after being on dual-registration at Abbey Rangers, and put in a good performance at right-back.
Dawid Rogalski was again to be subjected to particular close attention all match, the home side’s Joe Shepherd leaving his mark on him after just three minutes with a poor challenge, leaving the Swans’ striker needing treatment. Rogalski was then in the 6 yard-box, but just failed to get on the end of a low cross from Owusu, who had made a good run on the left. Owusu was soon making another terrific run in on the left byeline that took him past the challenge of Louie Paget, but his low ball in was again cleared away. A corner was won on the right, and from Olyott’s kick James Harding just got the ball behind at the near-post to deny Johl Powell. Andreou played a good long ball down the middle to pick out the run of Rogalski, but he was just offside. Swans had totally dominated the opening stages, with Owusu particularly dangerous on the left, and he made another fine run into the box for Matt Berry-Hargreaves to block behind for a corner.
It was over a quarter of an hour before the home side threatened. Following a throw-in on the right Berry-Hargreaves crossed into the box, where Shepherd got a touch, but the ball ran comfortably through to goalkeeper Jos Barker at the far-post.
Swans built up another good move, leading to Olyott playing the ball in low to Powell, who forced another corner.
Shepherd got in a glancing header when Hungerford got the ball in from the left, but it was cleared in the left of the box. Midway through the half the home side had a free-kick deep on the left following a foul by Powell, but when the ball was delivered into the box Rogalski headed away.
Hungerford forced a corner on the right as the ball deflected off Joey Jones, but Swans soon won another of their own when Anis Nuur found Olyott, who made a driving run down the right.
A foul by Nuur deep on the right then gave the home side the opportunity to deliver a free-kick into the box, but Jones headed away when Louis McGrory sent the ball in, and Barker was able to tidy up. Hungerford had come more into the game, and a shot by Shepherd from the edge of the box took a deflection to go wide. Baboucarr Jarra was at the far-post to get his head to the right-side corner, but Barker made a comfortable take.
With three minutes remaining of normal-time at the end of the half, Jones played an excellent ball from the centre-circle to pick out Olyott on the right, and his clever ball sent Powell into the box, where he was clearly pushed in the back by Brad Hooper, but the referee surprisingly saw no offence. Swans ended the half strongly, and Olyott got in another cross from the right, but Mason Obeng could only direct his header into the gloves of home keeper Ryan Clarke.
The second-half started with Hungerford having a free-kick out on the left touchline, but the ball was cleared at the near-post/
Obeng and Owusu combined well on the right for Swans, but Obeng couldn’t get a shot away.
Hungerford’s only real threat had been from set-pieces, and eleven minutes into the second-half one bore fruit. A right-side corner was met at the far-post by Shepherd, who headed back across goal, and Berry–Hargreaves drove in a shot that was half-blocked by Rogalski, but the ball deflected onto the right post. Alefe Santos was able to follow up and drive past Barker to give the home side the lead.
Swans failed to regain their dominance of the first-half and found it difficult to penetrate an uncompromising home defence. Olyott continued to be a threat, and another good ball in from the right just failed to find Obeng.
With a quarter of an hour remaining Andreou picked up a yellow card for a foul, giving the home side the opportunity to deliver another free-kick into the box from deep left, but Barker made a good take.
Owusu’s cross from the left was just too high to pick out Rogalski in the box as Swans pressed for the equaliser, and they brought on Lucas Defise to replace Eoin Bolger. With eight minutes of normal-time remaining Swans again looked to be denied a penalty when Owusu was brought down in the left of the box.
The equaliser soon came however. Tobin got forward before clipping the ball over the top to try to find Rogalski, who was tripped on the edge of the ‘D’ just outside the box. With Owusu’s free-kick winner last season in mind, the choice was between him and Olyott to take responsibility this time. It was the young Fulham loanee who took the kick however, and Olyott struck a superb left foot shot over the wall and into the top, left corner.
Swans now pressed for the winner, and some fine play by Rogalski won a corner on the right. As the match entered added-on time Swans were denied a penalty for the third time, this one being the best claim of the three. Obeng’s throw-in found Powell in the right of the box, and when he got between two defenders he was clearly brought down by one of them, Hooper, but again the referee waved play-on.
With time running out Hungerford took a throw-in from the left, and when the ball was crossed into the box Dawid Regula got to the near-post to send a header looping onto the top of the net. Swans then had to defend one last corner from the right, but Barker made a clean take.
With the final whistle blown, Nuur was shown a red card for remarks to the referee.

Swans’ Team: Jos Barker, Alex Andreou, Eoin Bolger (Lucas Defise 80’), Joey Jones, Josh Tobin, Anis Nuur, Tom Olyott, Mason Obeng, Dawid Rogalski, Johl Powell, Nana Owusu. Subs. not used: Paul Field, Jordan Esprit, Darren Simpson, Danny Ball Scorer: Olyott (86’). Yellow Cards: Andreou, foul (75’), Owusu, foul (88’). Red Card: Nuur (Post-match.).
Hungerford Town Team: Clarke, Paget, Tyler, Berry-Hargreaves, Jarra, Hooper, Shepherd, McGrory, Hughes (Bancroft 79’), Harding (Regula 61’), Santos (Softley 90’). Subs. not used. Akers, Curtis. Scorer: Santos (56’). Yellow Cards: Shepherd, foul (60’), Tyler, time-wasting (74’), Hooper, foul (88’).