Saturday 25th October 2025. FA Trophy, 1st Round.
Walton & Hersham 5 Hendon 1.
Swans progressed through to the 2nd Round of the FA Trophy for the first time since the 2004-05 season with what finally proved to be a comfortable win over their Isthmian League South-Central opponents, who had put them out at the same stage two seasons ago. At the end of a first-half that Swans almost totally dominated, the score was tied up at 1-1. This was mainly the result of an excellent performance by the Greens’ goalkeeper Josh Strizovic, who pulled off several fine saves, and some resolute defending by the visitors, who got men behind the ball from the off. For a while there was the possibility of a shock result as Hendon took the lead from their first attack midway through the first-half, but after Swans equalised the outcome was seldom in doubt, and they ran in four more goals after the break.
Swans’ selection possibilities were limited, as captain Joey Jones was serving a one match suspension, Charlie Street was cup-tied, while Ben Acey, Elliott Bolton, Riley Horan and Thabo Kuaho were all out injured. The opportunity was taken to name two members of the excellent U18 squad on the bench, Ryan Danso, who made his senior debut last season, and Zidane Yousuf. Both came on and played significant parts, Danso having an assist in the fourth goal, and Yousuf marking his first appearance with a superbly taken fifth. Zach Alfalahi also made his first start, playing wide-left.
Straight from the kick-off Alfalahi was winning the ball off Rohdell Gordon midway in the away half, but the Hendon player did well to get back and close him out on the edge of the box. A fine build-up on the left led to Mason Obeng laying across for Anis Nuur to drive in a low, left foot shot from the corner of the box that Strizovic just got a glove on to divert the ball inches wide of the far-post. From Joe Bennett’s right-side corner the keeper just got the ball away from his line.
Alfalahi was seeing plenty of the ball on the left, and after getting in on the byeline to have a cross cleared, Bennett got forward to find him, and he cut inside to get in a low shot that Strizovic got behind. Another excellent move on the right led to Jack Wood playing Johl Powell in, but his shot from a tight angle passed inches wide of the far-post. Wood was found on the right by a fine ball by Nuur, and his cross was put behind for a corner on the right, Strizovic making a good punch clear from Bennett’s kick. Hendon’s Jordan Grey fouled Powell on the right touchline, and following Bennett’s free-kick Alfalahi forced another good save from Strizovic down at his right post with a shot from inside the box. Dawid Rogalski then headed a chance over at the far-post when Wood crossed from the left following a corner played short to him by Bennett. Swans continued to have all the play, and after forcing successive corners they had a free-kick 35 yards out following a handball by Gordon, but Nuur sent the ball dipping over.
The visitors then took a shock lead after 23 minutes, and as with the one conceded in the previous match at Farnham Town, the goal was a soft one. Hendon’s Keagan Cole tried to play the ball out to the left, but Lucas Defise, in trying to intercept, could only divert it past a stranded keeper Jos Barker. The ball was probably going in for an own goal, but Shaun Lucien got to it first to tap it over the line.
Wood had a chance for Swans in the right of the box, but his low shot lacked power, and Strizovic made a comfortable save.
With half an hour played Hendon had another rare attack, but Niko Muir lobbed the ball wide of the right-post.
The visitors’ defence finally succumbed to Swans’ almost constant pressure after 34 minutes. Another fine build-up on the left led to Rogalski laying the ball across the edge of the box to Nuur, and he drove a terrific, first-time shot low into the right corner.
With the half entering the final five minutes Hendon had a chance to get the ball into Swans’ box with a free-kick deep on the left, but Barker cut out Gordon’s delivery at the far-post.
Wood forced another corner on the right for Swans, and he crossed the ball in when Bennett played it short to him, but Rogalski’s overhead kick sent it wide of the far-post.
Hendon had another free-kick out on the right, and the ball took a deflection when Gordon sent it in, to go wide of the far-post for the visitors’ first corner.
Straight after the resumption of the second-half Obeng and Rogalski combined on the left to play Alfalahi in, but he was again closed out. Swans looked determined to put the tie to bed, and following another fine move Nuur played a great ball through to get Powell in on a one-on-one with Strizovic, but the Hendon keeper made another excellent block.
The pressure paid off after 54 minutes when Wood sent Powell down the right, and his low ball across the box was turned in at the far-post by Rogalski to give Swans the lead.
Nuur played another fine through ball to send Obeng into the box, but he couldn’t get his shot away.
Hendon had a free-kick 35 yards out on the right, but Gordon sent the ball straight to Barker.
Swans then made their first change when Jonathon Page came on for Alfalahi. Strizovic was soon again denying Swans, making a good block at his near-post when Rogalski got Powell in on the right.
The Hendon keeper had no chance however, when Swans went 3-1 up just past the hour. Another excellent move led to Powell in the box laying the ball back to Nuur on the edge, and he drove home another terrific, low shot for his second goal of the game.
The visitors had a rare opening after getting in on the right and laying the ball back to Lucien on the edge of the box, but his shot was well blocked by Ethan Light.
Swans immediately brought on Stefan Parkes for Eoin Bolger. Wood made a great run on the right, but his low cross was cut out by the keeper.
Danso then came on to replace Obeng, and he was soon setting up Swans’ fourth goal with some clever play on the left and a lay inside to Wood, who slotted into the bottom, right corner.
It should have been 5-1 soon after, but Rogalski rolled the ball wide of the near-post after another fine move on the left.
Swans then made their final changes, with Danylo Hubynets and Yousuf coming on for Rogalski and Bennett. Powell couldn’t pick out Hubynets in the middle after getting down the right, and Nuur drove a shot over when Wood laid the ball across.
Hubynets forced a corner on the right, and following Wood’s kick Swans made it 5-1. The ball fell to Yousuf in the left corner of the box, and he lifted it superbly over the keeper and into the far, top corner.
In the final minute of normal Nuur had a chance to register what would have been a well-deserved hat-trick when Hubynets made a run on the left to lay the ball in to him, but his shot from just inside the box was blocked by Hendon’s Nikolai Krokhin. The ball came out to the right, where Nuur and Wood combined to set up Page on the edge of the box, and he drove a shot just wide of the far-post.
There was still time for Danso to make a run on the left and lay the ball inside to Powell on the edge of the box to get in a shot that Strizovic kept out down by his right post.
Swans’ Team: Jos Barker, Ethan Light, Joe Bennett (Zidane Yousuf 76’), Lucas Defise, Anis Nuur, Eoin Bolger (Stefan Parkes 63’), Jack Wood, Mason Obeng (Ryan Danso 70’), Dawid Rogalski (Danylo Hubynets 76’), Johl Powell, Zach Alfalahi (Jonathon Page 59’). Scorers: Nuur (34’ & 61’), Rogalski (54’), Wood (74’), Yousuf (84’).
Hendon Team: Strizovic, Marquis, Straker (Mbele 90+2’), Gordon, Diedhiou, Stirling (Krokhin 83’), Cole (Shaban 78’), Grey, Lucien (Ada 65’), Muir, Adaje. Sub. not used: Dixon-Smith. Scorer: Lucien (23’).
