Saturday 18th January 2025. Southern League, Premier Division South.
Walton & Hersham 1 Hungerford Town 1.
Swans were left frustrated by an uncompromising Hungerford Town side who, after taking a third minute lead, could not muster another shot on goal all match. Despite going close on several occasions, and equalising just over ten minutes into the second-half, Swans could not conjure up a winner.
Two changes were made to the starting line-up from the previous league match, with Josh Tobin having been recalled by Bromley and Eoin Bolger unwell. Nana Owusu came back in, while 18 year-old Thabo Kuaho made his first league start. An early change was also necessary when Paul Field was injured just ten minutes in.
Swans went close to taking the lead inside the first minute. Elliott Bolton got the ball forward to Ralph Vigrass on the right, and he cut inside to 25 yards out to drive a low, left foot shot just inches wide of the right post.
It was the visitors who took an early lead however. A knock forward was collected by Kyle Tooze, and he forced his way past Bolton to get to the left corner of the box and swing his left foot at the ball, which found the far, top corner, the only part of his goal Swans’ keeper Jos Barker had no chance of covering.
Dawid Rogalski was almost played in for Swans, but Jordan Rose was just able to hook the ball clear from the edge of the box. Bolton then picked out the run of Johl Powell into the right of the box, but he could not get power behind his side-foot, half-volley, and keeper Ryan Clarke made a comfortable save.
Field was then fouled, and after receiving treatment could not continue, with Lucas Defise coming on to replace him.
Bolton picked up a Hungerford clearance before putting Vigrass down the right, and his driven cross was blocked at the near-post for a corner. Kuaho’s kick forced another corner as the ball was headed behind. Swans went close again after 25 minutes. Joey Jones found Bolton on the right, and he crossed into the box, where Rogalski cleverly laid the ball off to Powell with a back-heel flick, but his left foot, half-volley was just wide of the right post.
Hungerford won a corner on the left following a long throw from Curtis Angell, and Swans broke with Powell driving down the pitch, but after getting inti the right of the box he was just closed out and had to settle for a corner. Kuaho’s run on the left was halted by a foul that earned Hungerford’s Rose a yellow card, and the free-kick was put behind at the near-post for another corner. Jones and Powell combined superbly close-in on the right byeline, but the cross was just behind teammates in the 6 yard-box. The free-kicks began to add up for Swans, with Mason Obeng being fouled in the centre-circle, and Vigrass on the right edge of the box, resulting in the visitors’ Joe Shepherd being shown a yellow card. With the half entering stoppage-time Rogalski was fouled in the ‘D’ just outside the box, giving Swans another free-kick in a great position. Owusu took the kick, but he could not repeat his fine goal at Hungerford last season as he drove the ball over.
Swans finally equalised eleven minutes into the second-half, and it was Owusu who scored the goal. Jones sent a long pass over the top down the right to pick out Rogalski, who showed great control in shrugging off two defenders before clipping a terrific ball over to Owusu on the edge of the box. Owusu brought the ball down, before stepping inside Rhys Tyler and driving a half-volley past keeper Clarke.
Just two minutes later Swans went close to taking the lead. Powell won the ball on halfway wide on the right before driving forward to the edge of the box and finding Rogalski to his right. The striker was left with a similar chance to the one that he scored from to put Swans 2-1 up against AFC Totton, but this time he was denied by a fine save from Clarke. With twenty minutes remaining more excellent play by Rogalski got Vigrass into the right of the box, but he was just closed out.
Swans then brought on Alex Body, with Obeng going off, and he soon had a chance. Jones strode forward before finding Bolton, who sent Vigrass surging down the right to the byeline. Vigrass just kept the ball in and hooked it to the left of the box to pick out Body, but he could not get power in his downward header, and Clarke made an easy save. Body had a more difficult chance when Bolton crossed from the right, and his looping header was clutched by Clarke high up on his line. With the match entering the final five minutes Rogalski set up Owusu on the edge of the box, but his shot was deflected behind for a corner.
In the final minute of normal-time Hungerford won a corner on the left, but Swans’ keeper Barker, who had been relatively untroubled all match, made a comfortable catch.
Swans’ Team: Jos Barker, Paul Field (Lucas Defise 12’ [Anis Nuur 83’]), Thabo Kuaho, Joey Jones, Junior Eccleston, Elliott Bolton, Ralph Vigrass (Joe Garcia 83’), Mason Obeng (Alex Body 71’), Dawid Rogalski, Johl Powell, Nana Owusu. Sub. not used: Eoin Bolger. Scorer: Owusu (56’). Cautions: Rogalski, dissent (29’), Bolton, foul (50’).
Hungerford Town Team: Clarke, Angell, Medford-Smith (Softley 90+2’), Rose (Jarra 64’), Berry-Hargreaves, Hooper, Dwyer, Tooze (Bancroft 69’), Santos (Lawrence 86’), Shepherd, Tyler. Sub. not used. Berchiche. Scorer: Tooze (3’). Cautions: Rose, Dwyer, Tooze, Shepherd.
