Tuesday 1st April 2025. Surrey Senior Cup, Quarter-Final.
Walton & Hersham 2 South Park (Reigate) 0.
Swans made it through to the Semi-Finals of the County Cup for the first time in 20 years with a win over their Isthmian League South-Central visitors that was more convincing than the final score suggests. They dominated play throughout, but it was only in stoppage-time at the end of the tie that they made the game safe. Jos Barker had little to do all match, but he was twice called upon to deny South Park a goal with fine pieces of goalkeeping when they mounted rare attacks. The second of those came in stoppage-time and denied the visitors the chance of forcing a penalty shoot-out, before Alex Body scored to give the score-line a more balanced look. An away Semi-Final at Leatherhead now awaits to decide whether Swans will have a chance to get their hands on the trophy for the first time since the 1972-73 season.
The opportunity was taken for Swans to ring the changes in the squad, with all the substitutes from the previous Saturday starting. Lucas Defise, who has been on dual-registration at Hanworth Villa, also came back into the starting line-up. Junior Eccleston, Bobby-Joe Taylor and Wayne Ridgley were all cup-tied, while both Dawid Rogalski and Johl Powell were rested, and named on the bench. Three members of the U18s, Ryan Danso, Jack Kimber and Max Seddon, made up the rest of the substitutes, with Danso and Kimber both coming on to play a part.
The returning Defise had an excellent match, and a fine move on the right led to Ralph Vigrass sending him on a great run in on the byeline, before he was blocked at the near-post. With the visitors sitting back Swans dominated possession, without creating much in the way of clear chances. Midway through the half Vigrass drove in a low shot from the right edge of the box that took a deflection to go wide of the right-post for a corner. Another corner, Swan’s fourth so far, resulted from the kick.
South Park had a rare opportunity with a free-kick deep on the right touchline, but it was wasted by being hit too long.
Swans’ dominance finally bore fruit just before the half hour when Anis Nuur sent Mason Obeng clear through the middle to slot past keeper Danny Bracken.
Vigrass made a good run to the right byeline to get the ball over, but there was no-one in the 6 yard-box to capitalise. Swans had a good opportunity when Body was fouled just outside the left corner of the box, but the free-kick came to nothing. Defise made another terrific run in on the right byeline, but after opening up the chance his shot lacked the power to beat Bracken. In the final minute of the half Sam Faniyan made a good run in on the left byeline, but his cross was blocked away.
Straight from the resumption for the second-half Faniyan drove down the left and into the box, but his cross was cleared. Faniyan continued to get joy on the left, and he cut in on the byline to find Vigrass at the far-post, but he put a good chance over.
Ten minutes into the half South Park had their first chance when Shamal Edwards got in on the left, but Barker was quickly out to make a fine claim to deny the former Swan.
Bracken was soon doing well at the other end to come out and prevent Obeng getting through.
The visitors had begun to get players higher up the pitch, and midway through the half Swans’ skipper Joey Jones picked up a knock and was replaced by Danso.
Faniyan again got down the left for Swans to clip the ball into the box, but no-one could get onto it and it went wide of the far-post. With a quarter of an hour remaining Swans went the closest so far to doubling their lead. Vigrass got down the right to cross into the box for Body to get in a header that Bracken did well to keep out. Obeng followed up on the edge of the box to drive in a terrific half-volley that the keeper turned onto the bar and over with a fine save.
With the match entering the final five minutes South Park won their first corner of the match, and in the first minute of added-on time they had a chance to force a draw and a penalty shoot-out. They got free into the right of the box, but with a chance opening up Barker got his timing and angles perfect to cut out the threat.
Swans however immediately made the game safe as Danso played a fine ball through to Body, who cut inside from the right to send a low, left foot shot past Bracken.
Swans’ Team: Jos Barker, Paul Field, Thabo Kuaho, Joey Jones (Ryan Danso 68’), Lucas Defise, Eoin Bolger, Ralph Vigrass (Jack Kimber 87’), Mason Obeng, Alex Body, Anis Nuur, Sam Faniyan. Subs. not used: Dawid Rogalski, Johl Powell, Max Seddon. Scorers: Obeng (29’), Body (90+2’).
South Park Team: Bracken, Sweeney, Tucker, Clarke-Salter, Abubakari, Seager, Grant (O’Sullivan 46’), Jervis, Edwards (Mills 62’), Smith, McGee. Subs. not used: Curlew, Parsons.
