Saturday 29th March 2025.         Southern League, Premier Division South.

Walton & Hersham 1 Basingstoke Town 1.

It took another late goal for Swans to keep their unbeaten run going in a disappointing game played out before a big crowd at The Hub. They came up against a Basingstoke Town side that was desperate for points to keep them from getting sucked into a relegation fight. The visitors looked like going home with three points to help their cause until new signing Riley Horan leapt to head home an equaliser with just five minutes of normal-time remaining. The captain of the AFC Wimbledon U18 side has joined on-loan until the end of the season, and he marked his debut with a fine goal. That was the highlight of the game for Swans, as they showed only rare glimpses of the recent fine form that has taken them into the Play-off spots. The visitors meanwhile will feel disappointed to have caught Swans on an off day, and not left with a win under their belts. The draw however marked another landmark for Swans, as it meant they will go through their fifth season in a row where no club has completed a league double over them.
With Elliott Bolton having suffered concussion in a head clash at Taunton Town, Horan came in to make it the only change to the starting line-up. Horan’s inclusion completed a young back four, none of whom has yet left their teens.
The visitors went close just two minutes in when a misunderstanding between Eoin Bolger and Joey Jones led to Robbie Gallagher breaking through. The Basingstoke player was brought down by Bolger three yards outside the right edge of the box, bringing an early yellow card for the Swans’ defender and a free-kick in a dangerous position. George Reid took the kick, and sent a left-foot shot dipping against the top of the crossbar at the far-post.
Swans found it difficult to get forward in the early stages, but they finally broke to win a free-kick in the ‘Stoke half.
The visitors continued to dominate however, and Lewis Colwell sent a shot wide of the left post from 25 yards. Marcus Johnson-Schuster then crossed high from the right, and Swans’ goalkeeper Jos Barker had to tip the ball away from under his crossbar.
Swans had not got going, and it was 18 minutes before they threatened the away goal. Bobby-Joe Taylor delivered a great ball across the 6 yard-box from the right, but no-one could get onto it.
‘Stoke were soon threatening again however, and Reid got in on the left to send the ball across the box. They then had a free-kick out on the right touchline, but the ball was cleared from Reid’s delivery. Wayne Ridgley then conceded another free-kick 30 yards out, and Reid sent a left-foot shot just over the top, right corner.
Swans then had to defend a Colwell long throw from the right, and a Reid corner from the same side, before they had another opportunity with 37 minutes played. Ridgley was fouled deep on the left, and Bolger delivered the free-kick to the far-post for Jones to nod down to Dawid Rogalski, but he was under pressure and ‘Stoke keeper Simon Grant was able to fall on the ball. In the final minute of the half Johl Powell stole the ball off Malachi Ogunleye to force a corner on the right, but Bolger’s kick was headed clear.
Swans made a change for the second-half, with Mason Obeng coming on for Ridgley, who was on a booking.
Straight from the resumption Horan was getting down the right for Swans, but his cross was just too long for Ralph Vigrass at the far-post, and the ball went behind.
Colwell was immediately getting into the left of the box at the other end to get in a shot that Barker took high up at his near-post.
Swans were now looking more of a threat, and Thabo Kuaho’s throw-in on the left forced Scott Armsworth to put the ball behind at the near-post, but Obeng’s corner was headed clear. Seven minutes into the half Swans were denied a clear penalty. Rogalski found Powell in the centre-circle, and he drove forward before finding Vigrass in clear space in the left of the box. Armsworth came across and dragged Vigrass down, with the ball a yard away, but the referee waved play-on.
Basingstoke began to threaten again, and Colwell played the ball low across the goal-face and wide from the left. Barker then had to go down and save a shot from outside the left of the box. From Reid’s corner from the right the Swans’ keeper made a fine take at the far-post.
Just before the hour the visitors took the lead. Ogunleye stole the ball in the centre-circle and played a fine pass through to send Reid racing clear, and he took the ball to the left of Barker before slotting home from a tight angle.
Swans went close to equalising straight from the restart. Horan got forward on the right before playing the ball through to Rogalski just outside the box, and he played a first-time pass to get Powell in on the right, but his low shot passed just wide of the far-post.
Barker was still being kept busy in Swans’ goal, making a fine take from a left-side cross, and then doing well down at his near-post to keep the ball out as it was driven in low from the left.
Swans then brought on Sam Faniyan for Vigrass.
Taylor had not had much opportunity to do his characteristic cutting-in from the right onto his left-foot, but with a quarter of an hour remaining Horan got forward to find him, and he sent a strong shot dipping over. Swans had begun to get into their stride, and Rogalski was found in the box, but after he had a shot blocked he was just closed out.
The pressure paid off with five minutes of normal-time remaining. Bolger played the ball down the left to Rogalski, who looked to be fouled by Armsworth, but the referee saw no offence. Kuaho was able to get the ball back to the Swans’ striker, and he again went down under a challenge by Armsworth. This time the referee gave a free-kick just outside the edge of the box, and when Obeng drove the ball in low, it was cleared for a throw on the left. Obeng took the throw in to Faniyan, and when he got the ball back he sidestepped Josh Green before hanging a terrific cross to the far-post, where Horan leapt to head home.
‘Stoke were soon winning a corner on the left, and from Jaden Brissett’s kick Armsworth put a header wide of the near-post.
Swans had one last opportunity when Kuaho played the ball forward from the centre-circle to Taylor, but with Faniyan unmarked on the left, he tried a speculative shot from well out that was comfortably saved by keeper Grant.

Swans’ Team: Jos Barker, Riley Horan, Thabo Kuaho, Joey Jones, Junior Eccleston, Eoin Bolger, Bobby-Joe Taylor, Wayne Ridgley (Mason Obeng 46’), Dawid Rogalski (Alex Body 90’), Johl Powell, Ralph Vigrass (Sam Faniyan 71’). Subs. not used: Paul Field, Anis Nuur. Scorer: Horan (85’). Cautions: Bolger, foul (2’), Ridgley, foul (41’), Rogalski, persistent infringement (50’).
Basingstoke Town Team: Grant, Johnson-Schuster, Armsworth, Ball, Upton, Green, Reid (Brissett 71’), Ogunleye (Brown 83’), Ferdinand (Clark 88’), Gallagher, Colwell. Subs. not used: Barrett, Timberlake. Scorer: Reid (59’). Cautions: Reid, handball (29’), Ferdinand, persistent infringement (74’).