Saturday 26 October 2002

Ryman League, Division One South

Walton & Hersham 1 Banstead Athletic 1

Swans looked certain to get a confidence boosting victory after a winless sequence of four games, as they led 1-0 with just two minutes left of a match they had dominated throughout.

Then the visitors� striker Marcel Dennis was allowed to run on to long clearance from his keeper Dunn to lash in a shot from 25 yards that dipped over Lee Edwards in the home goal to snatch an unlikely draw for his side.

Yet again Swans were left wondering how they had failed to get maximum points from a match in which they had virtually all of the attacking play, with Edwards being barely troubled throughout the 90 minutes.

But again Swans failed to turn their superiority over very limited opposition in to goals, and once again paid the penalty.

Walton made several changes from the Bromley defeat, Adam Thompson retaining his place with Alan Dowson injured, and Francis Dolan returning.

Tristan Frontin and Rob Wimble came in for Garfield Blackman and the suspended Lee O�Donnell, Ross Pickett replaced hamstring victim Steve Warren, and Richard Newbery was recalled in place of Marcus Rose.

Although dominating from the outset it was 18 minutes before Swans created a real opening, a fine move initiated by Wimble on the right ending with Frontin chipping just over from the right side of the box.

Edgar then did extremely well at the far-post to get his head to a long free-kick from Thompson, but the ball passed just inches over the top corner of the goal.

A patient build-up resulted in Nicky Andrews chipping a clever ball to Paul Harkness down the left, a fine cross to the far-post being met with a tremendous volley from Newbery that flew inches over the crossbar.

Frontin had a header blocked from Dolan�s ball in, Wimble was almost played in by Edgar, and Edgar just could not convert another Dolan knock forward as Swans continued to suffer frustration in front of goal.

Banstead created a rare opening with the half coming to a close as Dennis shot over at the far-post from Moore�s corner, but Wimble replied with a low drive from 25 yards from Newbery�s lay back that flew just wide.

The second-half continued in the same vein with Swans creating but just failing to take chances, both Newbery�s snap-shot and Harkness�s far-post header, after Edgar had flicked on Dolan�s long throw, passing agonisingly wide.

But with twenty minutes left Swans finally made the breakthrough, Newbery latching on to a long clearance, muscling his way past a defender and lashing the ball past Dunn from just inside the box.

Newbery almost made the game safe as Harkness put over a splendid cross from the left that was too good for Dunn, but the Banstead keeper managed to block the ball as Newbery gained possession at the far-post to drive in a shot.

Edwards was troubled for the first time with ten minutes remaining when Dennis beat Chris Whelan to a long ball forward, but the Swans� keeper saved a low shot with little difficulty.

Wimble brought the ball forward to fire in a fine left-foot shot that flew just over, but with the game seemingly looking safe Dennis�s final speculative effort left the Swans� supporters stunned, and wondering where the next win would come from.

Match Statistics

Walton Team: Edwards, Dolan, Andrews, Thompson, Whelan, Frontin, Wimble, Pickett, Edgar (Rose 84), Newbery, Harkness. Subs. not used: Blackman, Garrard, Savage.

Goalscorer for Walton: Newbery (70 mins.).

Goalscorer for Banstead: Dennis (88 mins.).

Caution: Andrews (Walton), foul.