Saturday 27th September 2025. FA Cup, 3rd Qualifying Round.
Walton & Hersham 0 Chippenham Town 2.
Swans’ hopes of reaching the Final Qualifying Round for the first time in 30 years were dashed by their National League South opponents. They will feel that this was an opportunity wasted, as had they been at their best this was surely a tie that was distinctly winnable. They came up against a side that defended well with a back line of five, that their play lacked the cutting edge to break down. The Wiltshire side created little of their own, but made the most of their limited opportunities. Having taking a 20th minute lead they left Swans chasing the game, and they organised well, before clinching the win with a second goal.
Anis Nuur and Elliott Bolton both returned to the starting line-up after missing the midweek win at Berkhamsted through injury, with Ethan Light and Lucas Defise dropping to the bench.
The visitors sat back from the start, allowing Swans to come at them. They finally broke when Ethan Vaughan got to the byeline on the left, but his cross went behind.
Swans then managed to get the ball away following some slack play in their box, but they created the first chance after 13 minutes. Bolton played the ball forward to Johl Powell, and he played a neat one-two with Dawid Rogalski to get into the right of the box. Powell spun past Dan Ellison to drive in a low shot that goalkeeper Will Henry blocked in his 6 yard-box.
Chippenham had an opportunity to get the ball into the home box with a free-kick awarded deep on the left, but Caine Bradbury delivered it across goal and wide of the far-post.
Swans’ bright start had subsided somewhat, and they went behind after 20 minutes. They failed to clear their lines, and when the ball came to Bradbury five yards outside the box, he drove in a shot that Jos Barker appeared not to pick up as it went through his upstretched arms.
Swans had a chance to equalise after half an hour when Eoin Bolger picked out Mason Obeng on the left with a fine diagonal ball from the back edge of the centre-circle. Obeng drove past Jake Evans and clear into the box, but his cross was over-hit and the ball went out for a throw on the far-side. A better chance soon came when Thabo Kuaht won the ball on the left and Powell was able to find Jack Wood in the right of the box. Wood’s initial effort was blocked, but he regained possession to drive in a low shot that beat Henry, but was cleared off the goal-line by Evans.
With the half entering the final five minutes Swans were convinced they had equalised. Rogalski had a shot blocked for a corner on the right, and following Wood’s kick Nuur got a cross in from the left. This found Wood in the right of the box, and he again had a shot blocked before crossing high to the far-post. Rogalski was there to get in a header, and the ball was cleared by the knee of Luke Haines, with the distinct possibility it had gone over the goal-line.
Obeng was fouled out by the left corner-flag to give Swans a free-kick. Following Bolger’s kick, Wood crossed from the right, and Rogalski was in the box to send a volley dipping just over. In stoppage-time Bolger delivered a ball from deep on the left to pick out Rogalski, who was just inside the box, where he looked to be pulled down by Haines, bur the referee saw no offence.
Swans had shown enough in the first-half to suggest they could get back into the tie, and soon after the resumption Rogalski combined with Nuur to win a corner on the left.
The visitors forced a corner of their own when they got in on the right to have a shot blocked behind by Joey Jones, and Swans struggled to get the ball clear following the kick.
Chippenham keeper Henry was guilty of handling the ball just outside his area on Swans’ right when Bolger delivered it from deep on the left, but Wood sent the resultant free-kick dipping over. Obeng’s cross from the left led to claims for handball, and when they were turned down the ball came to Bolton, but his cross went over. Obeng then combined with Nuur on the left to get the ball into the box, but it was scrambled clear.
Swans immediately made a triple substitution, with Stefan Parkes, Zach Alfalahi and Diamond Edwards coming on for Bolger, Obeng and Wood.
Riley Horans’ ball over the top from deep on the right picked out the run of Rogalski into the box, but with the angle becoming tight he spun to shoot over.
Swans then made their fourth change, with Jones being replaced by Jonathon Page.
The visitors went close to doubling their lead when Bradbury’s free-kick from deep on the right led to a corner on the left. From Bradbury’s kick Ellison got in a far-post header that brought a fine tip-over save from Barker.
Swans then made their final change, with Ben Acey coming on for Bolton after 78 minutes, but Chippenham immediately made it 2-0 to effectively seal the win. Haines’ long throw from the right led to Barker punching the ball away, but it only reached Evans outside the box. His low shot found Tom Owen-Evans by the penalty-spot, and he showed fine control to hold off the challenge of Horan and drive the ball in.
Swans went close to getting a goal back when Horan’s long ball from deep on the right found Alfalahi on the left, and he made a clever run into the box to get in a shot that Henry did well to push away. In stoppage-time Kuaho’s ball over the top picked out Rogalski’s run into the box, but he was closed down by Ellison and Haines, and could only shoot tamely straight at the keeper. Parkes forced a corner on the left that was cleared, and the final whistle soon blew to signal an end to Swans’ cup run.
Swans’ Team: Jos Barker, Elliott Bolton (Ben Acey 78’), Thabo Kuaho, Joey Jones (Jonathon Page 71’) Riley Horan, Eoin Bolger (Stefan Parkes 59’), Jack Wood (Diamond Edwards 59’), Anis Nuur, Dawid Rogalski, Mason Obeng (Zach Alfalahi 59’). Subs. not used: Ethan Light, Lucas Defise. Caution: Jones, dissent (45+2’).
Chippenham Town Team: Henry, Mehew, Haines, Evans, Owen-Evans (Touray 90+1’), Vaughan, Bradbury, Fleet, Sady (Koszela 71’), Harrison, Ellison. Subs. not used: Colwell, Castro, Carroll, Fleming, Poffley. Scorers: Bradbury (20’), Owen-Evans (78’). Cautions: Haines, foul (22’), Henry, handball (54’).
