Saturday 23rd August 2025. Southern League, Premier Division South.
Walton & Hersham 2 Taunton Town 1.
Swans picked up a thoroughly deserved win over the previously unbeaten visitors, and one that should have been more convincing. They played superbly for most of the match, two goals being scant reward for their dominance and chances created. Taunton can thank their goalkeeper Frankie Phillips for keeping the score down, the young Exeter City loanee making some outstanding saves. The goal that kept them in the game was also gifted to them by Swans. Dawid Rogalski looked to be back to his best, scoring both goals to open his account for the season.
Swans were pleased to welcome back Teo Kurtaran, who played a big role in their promotion in 2022-23, the midfielder having been playing in Poland, and he took a place amongst the substitutes.
Swans pressed straight from the kick-off, and Mason Obeng got through on the left, leading to Jack Wood and Rogalski having efforts blocked. Five minutes in the visitors had keeper Phillips to thank for the first of his excellent saves when Anis Nuur picked out Johl Powell’s run into the right of the box with a fine ball from central midfield. Powell hit a terrific first-time shot on the half-volley that Phillips kept out with a superb save down to his right to get the ball round the post. Obeng took a long throw from the right, and when Riley Horan nodded the ball on Powell sent a first-time shot well over. Rogalski then cut in from the left to get in a low shot from outside the box that Phillips got a hand on down to his left to deflect the ball for a corner.
Twelve minutes had passed before Taunton managed to relieve the constant Swans’ pressure, Ben Seymour getting to the right byeline to drive the ball low across goal.
Wood had a shot blocked by the keeper, and Powell forced two corners on the right in quick succession. From the second, taken by Wood, Joey Jones headed back at the far-post for Rogalski to have a shot blocked.
The visitors had another chance to get into the game when they were awarded a free-kick 40 yards out, but Tom Purrington sent the ball straight through to Swans’ keeper Jos Barker. They could not deal with Swans’ attacks on the right however, and Powell twice made good runs before getting the ball low across, but each time he just failed to find Rogalski in the middle.
The breakthrough finally came after 23 minutes. Jones’ fine long ball picked out the run of Wood on the right, and he cleverly tricked his way past Jayden Nielsen on the byeline to lay back to Elliott Bolton, coming into the box. Bolton drove in a low shot that Phillips again kept out with a fine save, but Rogalski was in the right of the 6 yard-box to spin and hook the ball in.
Taunton equalised totally against the run of play just before the half-hour, and it was a goal gifted to them. Swans had just had two claims for penalties for handball in the box denied in quick succession. The first came after another fine run by Wood on the right, but the second, when Powell was played into the box, looked to be clear cut as the ball bounced off the outstretched arm of Nick Grimes. To add insult to injury, when Taunton cleared down the pitch, Horan knocked the ball back to Barker. The Swans’ keeper seemed to be taken by surprise, and his attempt to kick clear only sent the ball against the incoming Kane Simpson, and it rolled into an empty net.
This seemed to lift the visitors, and they began to come more into the game, going close to taking the lead after 39 minutes. Pressure from Bailey Croome led to him winning the ball in the right of the box, and Seymour drove in a low shot from tight on the byeline. The ball struck the inside of the far-post and rebounded back along the goal-line and into the gloves of Barker, with claims it had gone over the line.
As the half entered the final five minutes Swans had a free-kick 40 yards out, but Jones drove a well-struck shot straight through to the keeper.
Taunton had the final opportunity of the half with a free-kick just outside the right corner of the box, but the ball was sent straight through to Barker on his line.
Swans got the second-half off to the perfect start, regaining the lead after just four minutes. Bolton sent an excellent through pass to Wood on the right, and he played the ball low across the edge of the 6 yard-box for Rogalski to come in at the far-post and get in front of the keeper to clip into the top, left corner.
Wood made another fine run on the right for Powell to force a corner, before Taunton had a rather optimistic penalty claim turned down at the other end when a player went down in the right of the box, a shot then being put well over at the near-post.
More excellent play by Wood on the right for Swans led to Nuur picking up just outside the box to make room and drive in a low, left-foot shot that Phillips went down to save. Powell’s run forward on the right was stopped as he was pulled back, earning Simpson Taunton’s second yellow card in as many minutes. The free-kick, just outside the corner of the box, was driven into the side-netting by Wood.
Just past the hour Swans made their first change, with Stefan Parkes coming on for Eoin Bolger.
Barker had to take the ball down at his near-post when Taunton got in on the left byeline, before Swans were denied extending their lead by another outstanding save by keeper Phillips. Wood forced a corner on the right, and from his kick Jones got to the near-post to glance in a terrific header, but Phillips somehow turned the ball over the bar. Fine play by Thabo Kuaho got Obeng on a clever run on in the left byeline, but Powell was just denied in the middle.
Swans then made a double substitution with 71 minutes played, Diamond Edwards and Kurtaran replacing Wood and Powell.
The visitors threatened, forcing a corner on the left, and Kurtaran headed behind at the far-post to concede another on the right, this time Barker punching away.
Lucas Defise and Danylo Hubynets then came on for Nuur and Rogalski as Swans made their final changes. Hubynets was soon being sent on a clear run down the right by another fine pass from Bolton. Hubynets drove into the box to play the ball low across to Obeng, coming in at the far-post, but Grimes just got a foot in to deflect his shot over.
Swans should have had the points sewn up, but four minutes into stoppage-time Taunton went close to equalising. The ball was played in and around the home box, and Jake Hodgson knocked it forward to Simpson seven yards out, bur his side-foot flick went straight to Barker.
Fine play by Edwards on the right led to Hubynets just being denied in the box, bur Swans then conceded a corner needlessly on the left. Taunton sent everyone into the box, including keeper Phillips, but Hodgson’s header at the far-post went over.
Swans’ Team: Jos Barker, Elliott Bolton, Thabo Kuaho, Joey Jones, Riley Horan, Eoin Bolger (Stefan Parkes 61’), Jack Wood (Diamond Edwards 71’), Anis Nuur (Lucas Defise 81’), Dawid Rogalski (Danylo Hubynets 81’), Johl Powell (Teo Kurtaran 71’), Mason Obeng. Scorer: Rogalski (23’ & 49’). Caution: Rogalski, foul (52’).
Taunton Town Team: Phillips, Grimes, Booth, Purrington (Hodgson 90+2’), Simpson, Brain, Seymour, Towns (Rose 59’), Owers, Nielsen (Moulden 65’), Croome (Montague 59’). Scorer: Simpson (29’). Cautions: Towns, foul (39’), Grimes, foul (55’), Simpson, foul, (57’).