Saturday 19th October 2024.           Southern League, Premier Division South.

Winchester City 2 Walton & Hersham 1.

Swans winless run stretched to six games as a home side that had been second-best for most of the afternoon scored a late winner. Anything but a Swans’ win had looked unlikely after the bulk of the first-half as they had scored an early goal, struck the goal-frame twice and dominated play. Lack of concentration cost them an equaliser early in the second-half, but they continued to create opportunities. They could not find the elusive second goal however that would surely have won the game, as the home goal survived numerous scares. It wad City however, having threatened only intermittently, who came up with the winning goal.
It didn’t take long for Swans to go close to opening the scoring, as in just the second minute Dawid Rogalski and Johl Powell linked up in the centre-circle, with Powell finding Nana Owusu in space on the right. Owusu slipped Powell into the right of the box to send a low shot against the far-post, with Jordan Esprit just failing to turn the ball in.
The lead soon came however, with just four minutes played. A free-kick was awarded out on the right touchline, and when Tom Olyott swung the ball into the box, Owusu got to the near-post to power a header in.
Just two minutes later it was close to being 2-0. Owusu made a good run on the right before being fouled, giving Swans another free-kick. While Owusu was off the field, having been treated, Olyott again swung the kick in. City failed to clear, and Esprit was on the edge of the 6 yard-box to swivel and hook a left foot shot against the crossbar. The ball came to Junior Eccleston on the left, and his overhead kick sent it the far-post, where Rogalski got in a close-range shot, but home goalkeeper Luke Cairney just managed to block on his line. Some fine play by Esprit in the left of the box forced a corner, and from Olyott’s kick Rogalski was just blocked in the 6 yard-box. City had already conceded several free-kicks, and with ten minutes played a poor challenge by Alex Wilkie on Powell in the centre-circle deservedly earned him the game’s first yellow card. Swans had been in total control, and Powell made another good run to win another corner on the right.
It was 24 minutes in before the home side threatened for the first time, an attack leading to a good, low strike coming in from 35 yards that Swans’ keeper Jack West-Astuti got well behind on his line. West-Astuti again got behind the ball when Josh McCormick sent in a looping shot from the right. Swans had temporarily lost their early dominance, and City continued to have a good spell, McCormick getting to the byeline on the right to drive the ball low across goal.
Swans began to get back control, and with half an hour played Owusu just failed to find Rogalski in the 6 yard-box when he drove the ball in low from out by the right corner-flag. The home side continued to concede free-kicks, and Ollie Griggs picked up their second booking with a foul on Elliott Bolton on the right. Olyott delivered the free-kick, but it went straight to keeper Cairney.
In the final minute of the half City forced a corner on the left, and West-Astuti managed to punch the ball away before it was headed clear.
Swans finished the half strongly however, with another couple of promising attacks on the home goal.
Swans were soon attacking again after the resumption, and Powell was found on the right to have his cross deflected behind for a corner, but Olyott’s kick was well cut out by Cairney.
However, just four minutes into the second-half the home side equalised. A cross-field pass was played from deep on the left to pick out McCormick in space on the right. McCormick drove past Olyott to cross to the far-post, where Tommy Wright got above Bolton to head firmly past West-Astuti.
Rogalski sent a shot from 30 yards dipping over, before Swans went close to regaining the lead. Olyott broke forward before playing Esprit into the left of the box, and he sent a low, left foot shot just wide of the far-post, where Rogalski just failed to turn the ball in. Paul Field then played the ball down the right to Powell, who played a great one-two with Rogalski to get into the right of the box, but his low shot was saved by Cairney, who fumbled the ball round his near-post. Esprit was fouled 35 yards out on the left, and when Olyott delivered the free-kick to the far-post Joey Jones got in a downward header, but it lacked the power to beat Cairney. Swans continued to press, and just before the hour again went close to regaining the lead. A fine build-up led to Jones finding Powell just outside the box, and he played Rogalski clear in on the right, but his shot was blocked by Cairney, the ball striking the City keeper on the head. Esprit then found Olyott just outside the box, but after cleverly opening up the shot he drove the ball wide of the left post. A clever ball by Rogalski got Powell into the right of the box, but after cutting back onto his left foot his shot was blocked.
A clear foul on Esprit was not given, allowing the home side to break and Jones to concede a free-kick just outside the edge of the box on the right. McCormick’s initial ball into the box was blocked by Rogalski, but the City right-back followed up to drive in a shot that clipped the top of the bar at the far-post. Wright then did well 35 yards out to get in a good strike that dipped over.
Swans had a free-kick 12 yards outside the box on the left following yet another foul on Rogalski, but Owusu’s shot was blocked.
City soon got free on the right, and when the ball was driven low across it had to be cleared at the near-post.
With a quarter of an hour remaining Swans made a double change, with Mason Obeng and Dan Rowe coming on for Owusu and Olyott.
Swans continued to press for the winner, and some excellent play by Esprit forced a corner on the right. Esprit was then fouled 10 yards outside the edge of the box on the left. Bolton delivered the free-kick to the far-post, where Rogalski got a touch and Jones nodded the ball in, but the flag went up for offside.
Swans were wondering how they did not already have the game won, but with two minutes of normal-time remaining they were dealt a sucker punch. The home side broke from a Swans’ attack, a ball down the right finding George Britton in space. The City substitute cut in to the corner of the box before crossing to the far-post, where Simba Mlambo looked suspiciously offside as he nodded home.

Swans’ Team: Jack West-Astuti, Paul Field, Elliott Bolton, Joey Jones, Junior Eccleston, Lucas Defise, Tom Olyott (Dan Rowe 75’), Jordan Esprit, Dawid Rogalski, Johl Powell, Nana Owusu (Mason Obeng 75’). Subs. not used: Eoin Bolger, Archie Procter, Anis Nuur. Scorer: Owusu (4’).
Winchester Team: Cairney, McCormick, King (Jamison 46’), Griggs (Chalwell 70’), Wilkie, Nevins, Caborn (Mlambo 70’), Barron, Wright (Britton 77’), Jones, Hill. Sub. not used: Mdlalose. Scorers: Wright (49’), Mlambo (88’). Cautions: Wilkie, foul (10’), Griggs, foul (35’).