Tuesday 28th October 2025. Surrey Senior Cup, 1st Round.
Walton & Hersham 2 South Park (Reigate) 0.
Swans comfortably overcame the first hurdle in the way of them retaining the Surrey Senior Cup. The 2-0 win was a repeat of that of the Quarter-Final tie against the Isthmian League South-Central club last season. The first-half was one of almost total domination by Swans as they took a two goal lead inside the first half hour. The visitors showed more enterprise in the second-half, and created a couple of opportunities, but Swans always had the game under their control.
Dawid Rogalski was originally to be rested and named amongst the substitutes, but with Danylo Hubynets picking up an injury in the warm-up he started the match, and twice found the net. Stefan Parkes and Jonathon Page both made starts, with Jack Wood and Johl Powell also rested.
Swans dominated from the off, with the visitors sitting back, the first opportunity coming when Joe Bennett’s fine pass played Page to the right byeline to get in a low cross, and Rogalski to send a shot over. Rogalski was then found on the right, but his cross could not pock out Anis Nuur in the middle.
The lead came after 17 minutes when Zach Alfalahi was found on the left, and he was able to lay inside to Rogalski, whose first shot was blocked, but his second found the back of the net.
It was almost 2-0 when a fine build-up led to Bennett cutting in from the right to send a left-foot shot just wide of the far-post. South Park’s Ross Stepney’s wayward back-pass went just wide to give Swans a corner on the left. From Bennett’s kick Rogalski got in a header that goalkeeper Jack West-Astuti, who played a couple of games for Swans last season, just managed to keep out.
Swans made it 2-0 on 27 minutes after patiently probing for an opening, Rogalski finding the bottom right-corner from inside the box.
Another multi-pass move led to Alfalahi getting through on the left, but his cross went low across the 6 yard-box with no-one there to get a touch.
It was inside the last five minutes of the half before South Park had a chance to threaten Swans’ goal, but Jack Tucker’s free-kick from the right was safely cut out at the far-post by keeper Jos Barker. Barker was soon tested more seriously, making a good save when the visitors had an opening in the box.
In added-on time Swans again opened up the South Park defence, and Parkes’ low ball in from the left just failed to find Alfalahi in the box.
Swans made a double change for the second-half, with U18s Ryan Danso and Zidane Yousuf coming on for Alfalahi and Parkes.
The visitors began to show more ambition to get forward as the second-half progressed.
With the hour approaching Swans had made their final changes, with Joey Jones and Wood coming on for Page and Rogalski.
South Park’s more offensive approach almost paid off when Jordan Hamilton-Olise got in on the right, and Ethan Light had to clear off the line at the far-post.
Bennett set up a chance for Wood on the edge of the box for Swans with a ball in from the right, but his shot was blocked. Two corners were won in quick succession, and following the second Wood crossed from the right for Yousuf to just fail to turn the ball in at the far-post.
With just over five minutes remaining the visitors were almost gifted a lifeline when some slack play by Swans left Kai Hamilton-Olise with a shot at an open goal from five yards outside the box, but Barker was able to get back and get behind the ball.
Swans went close to making it 3-0 when some great play by Nuur on the left opened up a chance, but he shot wide of the near-post.
South Park had a free-kick deep on the left, and this led to the ball being whipped in from the same side and Barker to make a fine grab on his line.
With added-on time being played Swans again went close to adding to their score, but Danso’s close-in shot was saved on the line, and both Wood and Mason Obeng followed up to have efforts blocked.
Swans’ Team: Jos Barker, Ethan Light, Stefan Parkes (Zidane Yousuf 46’), Lucas Defise, Anis Nuur, Eoin Bolger Joe Bennett, Jonathon Page (Joey Jones 57’), Dawid Rogalski (Jack Wood 59’), Mason Obeng, Zach Alfalahi (Ryan Danso 46’). Scorer: Rogalski (17’ & 27’).
South Park Team: West-Astuti, Barber (J. Hamilton-Olise 33’), Tucker (Clarke-Salter 77’), Stepney (K. Hamilton-Olise 46’), Perkins, Gale, Lillie, Seager, Chiabi (Brown), McGee, Briscoe. Sub. not used: Smith.
