Saturday 21st December 2024.      Southern League, Premier Division South.

Marlow 2 Walton & Hersham 3.

Swans began the lead up to the Christmas programme with a deserved three points after a good performance at the struggling Buckinghamshire club. Playing their first reverse fixture of the season they were good value for the win from a match fought out on a pitch that initially played well, but became more difficult as the afternoon drew on. Swans’ overall dominance should have led to a comfortable win, but the game became more of an even contest as legs became heavier on a deteriorating pitch, and the final outcome was in the balance until the final whistle. They also came up against a goalkeeper who had an outstanding game that included him saving two penalties, one of which led to him being beaten on the follow-up. They twice had the comfort of a two-goal lead, but were pulled back on each occasion by a battling home side.
Jordan Esprit had not recovered from the injury sustained against Dorchester Town, but Josh Tobin was fit to return after missing that match, and Elliott Bolton came back in for his first start in six games. Lucas Defise had been unwell and was named amongst the substitutes. Alex Body was recalled from his dual-registration at Hanworth Villa, and he came off the bench to make a big impact and score a fine goal that proved to be the winner.
Swans made a good start, and Bolton sent Mason Obeng away down the right, but there was nobody there to capitalise on his low ball across the box.
They did not have to wait long to take the lead however, the goal coming after nine minutes, and it was well worked, capped off with a terrific finish. Joey Jones got forward down the right before playing the ball through to Bolton; who found Dawid Rogalski in the box. Rogalski, playing against his former club, tried to open up a chance, but he was closed out and the ball came out to Obeng on the right edge of the box. Obeng laid the ball across to Tobin in the ‘D’, and he swept it superbly into the top, right corner.
Marlow went close when Rhys Harper was found in the left of the box, and he struck a shot on the turn that sent the ball across goal and wide of the far-post.
Swans were soon creating another chance however when Paul Field played a fine ball down the right to pick out the run of Obeng, who drove past Josh Masters and into the box. He then cleverly tricked his way past the Marlow left-back for the second time to open up a shooting chance, but home goalkeeper Aaron Watkins was able to block the shot at his near-post before claiming the ball. Rogalski then crossed from the right touchline to the far-post, where Nana Owusu was just prevented from getting in a header. Swans continued to dominate, and a fine build-up led to Jones clipping a terrific ball over the top to pick out Johl Powell’s run into the box for a one–on-one with Watkins, but the keeper did well to block on the edge of his 6 yard-box.
Marlow were awarded a free-kick deep on the right for a foul by Eoin Bolger that brought a yellow card for the Swans’ left-back, and this led to a chance for the home side when Josh Smith’s delivery forced a corner on the left. Jones headed away at the near-post when Smith swung the kick in, but Marlow were able to keep the attack going, and Harvey Maudner was left with a clear shooting chance in the box, but he sliced his shot well wide of the left-post. Swans’ early dominance had subsided somewhat, and the home side continued to look more threatening. Elijah Oladunjoye delivered a long throw from the right that Jos Barker punched away. The Swans’ keeper then had to make his first save, going down at his near-post to keep out a low, left foot shot from the right of the box from Mo Jallow after Marlow had built up a move on the right.
Swans then had the chance to double their lead with ten minutes left of the half. Powell was again picked out for a run into the box by a ball over the top down the right from Bolton. Powell got to the corner of the 6 yard-box, where he was brought down from behind by Harry Hoath for a clear penalty. Owusu took the kick, only for Watkins to go down to his right to make a good save. The ball looped up to Owusu inside the 6 yard-box, but he drove it against the underside of the bar and it bounced clear.
Swans were nearly made to pay for the miss when Jones conceded a free-kick on the left, picking up a yellow card in the process. Smith’s delivery into the box was headed away, but the ball was recycled to Harper on the right, who crossed to the far-post. Seb D’Aversa got to the ball before Barker, but sent a glancing header wide.
Rogalski forced a corner on the right for Swans, and from Bolger’s kick Jones was at the far-post to get in a header that was blocked on the line, the ball going behind for another corner on the left. Obeng’s kick was cleared behind for a third successive corner on the right.
As the half entered the final five minutes Jones played a great through ball from the centre-circle to send Powell on another run down the right. Powell laid the ball low across to the penalty-spot, where Tobin just failed to make contact. Owusu followed up in the left of the box to drive in a low shot that beat Watkins, but Oladunjoye was on the line at the far-post to hook the ball away and behind for a corner. Powell was again found on the right, this time by Tobin, but no-one was there to get on the end of his low ball across goal.
Swans had made a really strong finish to the half, and this brought their second goal. Marlow could not deal with Powell’s right side runs, and he again drove into the box to get on the end of Obeng’s fine ball over the top, before going down under the challenge of D’Aversa. The penalty did not appear as clear-cut this time, but one was awarded and Jones stepped up. Watkins made another fine save down to his right, but this time Jones was able to follow in and just get to the ball before the Marlow keeper to hook it into the top, left corner.
There was still time left for Powell to make yet another run on the right and have a low cross cleared away.
Five minutes after the resumption Powell had the chance to make it 3-0 to Swans. Tobin’s clever ball from the centre-circle sent him driving clear past Hoath, but his shot from the edge of the box brought another great save from Watkins.
Some good play on the right by Marlow led to the ball being driven across the goal-face, and the home side began to come more into the game, freshening things up with a double substitution. Jose Sani drove in a low shot from 25 yards that Barker got behind on his line.
Midway through the half Swans’ lead was cut. The ball clearly came off Marlow’s Smith as he was challenged by Bolton by the left corner-flag, but the referee awarded a corner to the home side. Smith’s kick sent the ball over Barker and curling into the far, top corner, the third time in four Swans’ matches a goal has been scored direct from a corner-kick.
With the pitch becoming more difficult and players tiring, Swans shortly brought on Body for Obeng, followed by Anis Nuur replacing Owusu.
Body was soon making his presence felt on the right, getting to the byeline and laying the ball back to the edge of the box to Bolton, whose low shot brought another stop from Watkins.
Body was soon being fouled on the right by Masters, earning the Marlow left-back a yellow card, and this led to Swans regaining their two goal lead after 78 minutes. Bolger’s free-kick was punched away by Watkins, but Bolton was able to find Body on the right corner of the box. Body cleverly turned inside past Masters, shifting the ball onto his left foot and drilling a superb low shot into the bottom, right corner, with his only previous league goal for Swans coming against the Buckinghamshire club at the start of the season.
That should have been the game won for Swans, but Marlow scored again with seven minutes of normal-time remaining. There was again controversy about the goal as Body’s shoulder charge on Masters on the halfway line on the home side’s left looked perfectly legitimate. However, a free-kick was awarded, and Swans were caught out as Masters played the ball quickly to Harper, who got clear to the edge of the box. Harper’s low shot was blocked by Junior Eccleston, but he was unable to prevent Toby Raggett following up to score.
Swans were soon having to scramble the ball clear from the goal-line when Marlow delivered the ball in from the left.
With four minutes of normal-time left Swans went close to restoring their two goal lead. A good move started by Bolton on the right led up to Nuur crossing from the left corner of the box to pick out Body at the far-post, but he could not direct his diving header on target and the ball went wide. Swans then managed out the remaining minutes, including six added on, to secure a deserved win and a double over Marlow.

Swans’ Team: Jos Barker, Paul Field, Eoin Bolger, Joey Jones, Junior Eccleston, Josh Tobin, Elliott Bolton, Mason Obeng (Alex Body 71’), Dawid Rogalski, Johl Powell, Nana Owusu (Anis Nuur 75’). Subs. not used: Lucas Defise, Thabo Kuaho, Danny Ball. Scorers: Tobin (9’), Jones (45+1’), Body (78’). Cautions: Bolger, foul (19’), Jones, foul (36’).
Marlow Team: Watkins, Oladunjoye, Masters, Rogers, D’Aversa, Smith, Harper, Hoath, Brown (Sani 45+2’ [Gutierrez-Ramirez 86’]), Jallow (Nawaf 55’), Maudner (Raggett 55’). Sub. not used: Jackson. Scorers: Smith (67’), Raggett (83’). Cautions: Rogers, foul (29’), Harper, foul (56’), Masters, foul (75’).