Wednesday 28 November 2012. SurreySenior Cup, 2nd Round.

Dorking Wanderers 1 Walton & Hersham 0.

Swans’ first visit to the Sussex League club was doubly disappointing, in that not only did it see their exit from the Surrey Senior Cup in a tie that was thoroughly winnable, but it failed to get new management duo Paul Martyn-Jones and Adam Bessent off to a good start. It was impossible to appreciate the picturesque setting of the North Downs on a dark, cold evening with players slogging away on a muddy pitch. A piece of slack defending midway through the first-half proved to be Swans’ undoing, as despite their almost total dominance of the second-half they failed to carve out the clear chances that would have at least won them extra-time.

With Dan Sintim seemingly on his way to Metropolitan Police, Swans’ central defensive dilemma continued, with Adriano Moraes and Ashley Quashie switching roles, the latter dropping to left-back, and Steve Betancourt stepping up from the reserves. Betancourt was one of three of the successful reserve side to be given a senior start, the others being Courtney Warren at right-back and 18 year-old former youth player Ross Nunn up-front. Three of the substitutes were also regular members of the Suburban League squad.

Dorking’s Chris Williams was the first to have an opening after six minutes as he was played into the box on the right, but he drove his shot wide of the near-post. But it was Williams who was to score what was to prove the winning goal after 21 minutes. Swans’ new defensive line-up seemed to be on different wavelengths as a huge gap was left on their right that a through ball allowed Williams to run into. Goalkeeper Sheikh Ceesay committed himself by dashing out, and Williams was able to roll the ball past him into an empty goal.

Swans’ most decisive attack so far came after half an hour, and culminated in Phil Williams finding Quashie on the left, but he drove the ball across goal and wide of the far-post. Ten minutes before the break Harold Odametey was almost played in, but home keeper Tim Brewster was quickly out to collect. Then in the final minute of the half Williams’ jinking run took him into the home box, but again Brewster was able to save at his feet.

Victor Kiri replaced Odametey for the second-half, and after an hour his strong shot was handled right on the edge of the box. Jerome Maledon drove the free-kick through the wall to register Swans’ first shot on target, but Brewster dived to his right to push the ball round the post with a fine save.

Jaymo Ellis and Tom Hayden replaced Williams and Nunn as Swans continued to have all the play, but the home side defended in numbers. With a quarter of an hour left Graeme Purdy almost played Ellis in, and Ellis immediately set up Hayden inside the right of the box, but he drove his shot over. Five minutes later a high ball dropped to Purdy, but he stabbed his shot wide from the edge of the six-yard box.

The home side made a rare break, allowing Williams to get in on the right, but he shot across goal and wide.

With normal-time running out the ball came to Quashie 25 yards out, but he drove a strong shot wide. Then with a minute of stoppage-time played Swans’ pressure seemed to have finally paid-off when they looked to have scored the equaliser to force extra-time. A clearance was driven point-blank straight at Ellis on the edge of the box on the right, and the ball cannoned off him and rolled forward into an open goal. But Swans’ celebrations were cut short when the referee’s assistant signalled for handball against Ellis and the ‘goal’ was ruled out. Then a full seven minutes into stoppage-time Purdy got his head to Hayden’s free-kick from the left to send the ball towards goal, but it was cleared away off the line.

Swans’ Team: Sheikh Ceesay, Courtney Warren, Ashley Quashie, Steve Betancourt, Adriano Moraes, Jerome Maledon, Harold Odametey, (Victor Kiri 45’), Liam Collins, Graeme Purdy, Ross Nunn (Tom Hayden 73’), Phil Williams (Jaymo Ellis 62’). Subs. not used: James Crichton, Audie Matheson-Light. Cautions: Maledon, foul (54’), Quashie, foul (84’).

Dorking Team: Brewster, Suchy, Bissika, S. Duffell, Fraser, Jake Lyons, Beckles, Morritt, Jack Lyons (C. Duffell 70’), Williams, Osgood (Siaw 45’). Subs. not used: Smart, Boosey. Scorer: Williams (21’). Caution: Bissika, dissent (84’).