Saturday 5th October 2024.         FA Trophy, 3rd Qualifying Round.

Ashford United 1 Walton & Hersham 0.

Swans departed the FA Trophy at the first hurdle with barely a whimper as they put on a lack-lustre performance against the Isthmian League South East side in Kent. They also made it three straight losses in a four match winless run that coincided with the loss of striker Dawid Rogalski through suspension. His absence was particularly highlighted in this match as Swans barely had a chance of note as they tried to come back from conceding after a quarter of an hour. The performance was in stark contrast to that of just a week earlier on their previous visit to the county, when they had played so well at Tonbridge in the FA Cup. Their task was not helped by Josh Tobin being sent off just two minutes after being brought on early in the second-half. Tobin is the sort of influential player who could have changed the flow of the game, so his dismissal was a defining moment in the tie.
With Nana Owusu out injured, Swans were without their two leading goal-scorers. Jordan Esprit was brought into the starting line-up, having joined after a short spell with National League South Hemel Hempstead Town, but the former Bracknell Town striker was given few opportunities to mark his debut with a goal. Also making his first Swans’ appearance was Junior Eccleston, who has signed on a work-experience loan from Sutton United, and the 17 year-old defender’s assured performance was one of the few bright spots for the visitors.
Neither side had threatened in the final third in the opening fifteen minutes, so Swans will feel disappointed the first pressure on their goal led to them conceding. A back-pass from Paul Field led to goalkeeper Jos Barker kicking away, but his looping clearance only carried 35 yards, giving the home side possession and Will Moses finding Ronald Sithole outside the right corner of the box. Sithole cut inside past Archie Procter to drive a left foot shot low into the far corner.
Swans struggled to find any momentum, but a good build-up led to Tom Olyott forcing a corner on the right. Procter was at the near-post to get in a glancing header from Olyott’s kick, and the ball came off the head of an Ashford defender to go over for another corner on the left. With half an hour played Ashford’s Moses picked up the first yellow card of the afternoon for fouling Dan Rowe just outside the left corner of the box, giving Swans a free-kick in an excellent position. Rowe could not beat the defensive wall however, and the ball found its way safely into the gloves of home keeper Mitchell Beeney.
Swans forced another corner on the right, and this almost led to Ashford doubling their lead. Olyott played the kick short with Johl Powell, and Olyott’s cross into the box was cleared. Louis Collins was able to break on the left, leading to James Dunne playing Gary Lockyer into the left of the box, but the home side’s regular scorer drove his shot over.
Powell was played down the right for Swans, and his low ball in forced another corner on the right, but Olyott’s in-swinging kick could only find the gloves of keeper Beeney. Swans continued to have a spell of pressure, and Powell won another corner on the right, but Olyott’s kick went behind at the far-post.
In the final minute of the half Ashford had a free-kick on the left, and following Joey Taylor’s kick the ball came to Sithole on the edge of the box, but this time his low shot was wide of the left post.
The home side’s Jonah Tolulupe became the second player to pick up a booking early in the second-half for bringing down Powell on the right, but the free-kick came to nothing.
Swans continued to look out of sorts, and seven minutes into the half they brought on Joey Jones and Tobin for Procter and Rowe to try to inject some impetus into their play. This had little chance to bear fruit however, as just two minutes after coming on Tobin lunged in with his right foot to try to win the ball off William Dupray. Although he looked to have failed to make contact with the ball, there did not appear to be much with the Ashford player either, but the referee judged the tackle to be worthy of a red card.
With an hour played Swans had their first real chance to get on the scoresheet when Olyott got to the right byeline, before laying the ball back to Powell. Powell also drove to the line before clipping the ball over to the near-post, where Esprit got in front of keeper Beeney, but he could only direct his header just over.
Ashford built up a move outside the box, and Dupray was 35 yards out to drive in a shot that looked to be dipping over, but Barker took no chances by getting fingers to the ball.
Swans again went close after 72 minutes when good play by Esprit on the left corner of the box led to him playing the ball across to Olyott on the edge of the ‘D’. Olyott drove in a left foot shot that Beeney had to palm over. Olyott’s right-side corner forced Ashford to head behind for another kick on the right. This time Olyott’s kick picked out Jones, close-in at the far-post, but he could not direct his header on target and the ball went narrowly over.
Ashford forced a corner on the right, and Barker had to tip the ball behind for another kick on the left. From the kick a header came in from the edge of the 6 yard-box that passed wide of the near-post. Ashford won the ball ten yards outside the right of the box, and Jack Saunders was on the edge to get in a low shot that Barker had to go down and push wide of his left post.
The Swans’ keeper made a good catch from the resultant corner.
The remaining ten minutes, plus added-on time, were comfortably seen out by the home side.

Swans’ Team: Jos Barker, Paul Field (Jaden Crowhurst 69’), Elliott Bolton, Junior Eccleston, Archie Procter (Joey Jones 52’), Lucas Defise, Tom Olyott, Jordan Esprit, Dan Rowe (Josh Tobin 52’), Johl Powell, Mason Obeng (Anis Nuur 80’). Sub. not used: Eoin Bolger. Dismissal: Tobin (54’).
Ashford United Team: Beeney, Moses, Stone, Tolulupe, Dupray, Dunne, Taylor, Sithole (Bodkin 69’), Collins, Saunders (Berry 80’), Lockyer. Subs. not used: Ramadan, Osinfolarin, Kedwell. Scorer: Sithole (15’). Cautions: Moses (30’), Tolulupe (49’).