Tuesday 25th November 2025. Southern League, Premier Division South.
Walton & Hersham 2 Berkhamsted 0.
Swans shrugged off the sudden departure of manager Billy Rowley and his assistant Darren Simpson with a fine performance that capitalised on Gloucester City’s defeat to give them a five point lead at the top of the table with a game in hand. With Joey Jones and Jakub Pietrzak taking control of the side, they secured their first double of the season by beating a good Berkhamsted side that are doing well on their return to Step 3. They dominated possession, scoring two fine goals and keeping another clean sheet as goalkeeper Jos Barker did not have a shot to deal with all evening.
There was one change to the line-up, with Thabo Kuaho making his first start since his return from injury, and Eoin Bolger dropping to the bench.
Swans went close to taking the lead after eight minutes when Lucas Defise clipped a great ball over the visitors’ defence to pick out the run of Johl Powell into the box, but he just failed to get instant control, and when he did get a shot away goalkeeper Charlie Horlock stuck out a leg to block for a corner on the left. Mason Obeng’s kick led to the ball being scrambled away and behind for another corner on the right. Another corner soon followed on the right when an excellent build-up led to Obeng having a shot from outside the left corner of the box deflected behind. Dawid Rogalski then just failed to get on the end of a terrific low ball across the box from the right by Jack Wood. Aaron Williams Fernandez played a fine pass to find Wood on the right, and he got Powell into the box to have another shot blocked for a corner. Wood’s kick from the right led to him getting the ball back and sending a left-foot shot over.
After early dominance by Swans, Berkhamsted had their first attack after 13 minutes, and created a good chance. Billie Busari played J J Lacey down the right, and then got clear into the box to take a return pass, but he shot well-wide of the near-post.
Swans again worked their way through the visitors’ defence with another great move, ending with Wood getting Luciano D’Auria-Henry through to the right byeline, but his low cross was cut out by Horlock at his near-post.
Swans took the lead after 18 minutes when Obeng delivered a long throw from the left. The ball was nodded on by Jones, and when it dropped in the right of the box, Rogalski met it on the half-volley to send a superb left-foot shot into the far corner.
Berkhamsted were soon calling for a penalty when Luke Andrews laid the ball in from the right to Lacey just outside the edge of the 6 yard-box, and he went down in trying to go past Jones, but the referee seemed correct in his decision to play on.
With half an hour played Obeng was found on the left after a fine piece of play by Rogalski, who was just closed out in the box when the ball was played low in.
Berkhamsted began to have a good spell, and went close after Cameron Hyde sent in a long throw from the left. The ball came back to him, and when he crossed to the far-post for D’Auria-Henry to head away, James Gurteen came in on the left edge of the box to send a volley just over. The ball was headed clear when Berkhamsted got in on the right byeline, and home keeper Jos Barker saw his first real action, making a good catch from a high cross from the right.
With the half entering the final five minutes the first yellow card of the evening was shown when Wood laid the ball in from the right to Powell, who was cynically brought down by Berkhamsted’s Kyle Brooks just outside the corner of the box. Wood drove the free-kick just wide of the near-post.
Swans made a double change for the second-half, with Bolger and Jonathon Page coming on for Stefan Parkes and D’Auria-Henry.
Wood was soon breaking on the right to almost get Rogalski in, but he was just denied. Bolger then delivered a great long ball for Wood to win a corner on the right, his kick being cut out by keeper Horlock. The excellent Williams Fernandez played the ball down the right to Wood, whose low cross was cut out by Gurteen.
Berkhamsted were able to break, and a cross-field pass by Charley Barker found Lacey in space on the right, and he got forward to send a shot over the near, top corner.
Jones picked out Obeng on the left for Swans with a fine ball, and he did well before finding Rogalski in the box, who had a shot blocked.
The lead was then doubled after 67 minutes when Powell played a terrific one-two with Williams Fernandez on halfway on the right. Powell sent Rogalski driving through to the byeline on the right to square the ball low across the edge of the 6 yard-box, for Page to come in at the far-post and slot home his first goal for Swans.
Ryan Blake became the second visiting player to be shown a yellow card when he fouled Powell out on the right. Jones headed back at the far-post from Wood’s free-kick, but no-one could capitalise. Page laid the ball in from the left to left to Rogalski 5 yards outside the box, and he drove in a shot that took a deflection. The ball was looping under the crossbar, but Horlock tipped it over with a fine save,
Anis Nuur immediately came on to replace Obeng and take the corner from the left. Nuur was soon making a fine run in on the left byeline to play the ball low across the goal-face.
Berkhamsted pressed in added-on time, and five minutes in they headed over from a right-side cross. They then had a free-kick high on the left, but the ball was delivered over the far, top corner just before the final whistle blew.
Swans’ Team: Jos Barker, Luciano D’Auria-Henry (Jonathon Page 46’), Stefan Parkes (Eoin Bolger 46’), Joey Jones, Aaron Williams Fernandez, Thabo Kuaho, Jack Wood, Lucas Defise (Ethan Light 90+1’), Dawid Rogalski, Johl Powell, Mason Obeng (Anis Nuur 84’). Sub. not used: Zach Alfalahi. Scorers: Rogalski (18’), Page (67’).
Berkhamsted Team: Horlock, Rosner, Busari, Andrews (Watkins 82’), Hyde, Gurteen, Lacey, Barker, Wadkins (Duodu 70’), Brooks (Harding 63’), Blake. Subs. not used: Kyei, Harriman-Annous. Cautions: Brooks, foul (42’), Blake, foul (73’).
