Saturday 29 March 2003

Ryman League, Division One South

Walton & Hersham 0 Ashford Town (Mx.) 2

Swans failure to raise their game against clubs in the lower echelon of the division again came to the fore on Saturday as they put on a lifeless display after their recent run of good form, allowing their neighbours to complete the double over them.

After trailing 2-0 at the break, the expected push from Swans in the second-half did not materialise, and the lowly visitors held on with little discomfort.

Both Sean Thurgood and Neil Lampton were fit to return, with Tommy Moorhouse and Tristan Frontin stepping down.

Swans' minds seemed to be still in the dressing room as they fell behind after just three minutes with their defence going alarmingly absent.

Ashford were allowed to get a low cross over from the left, and with goalkeeper Nick Gindre failing to get across to his far-post, Frost was able to get forward unchallenged to turn the ball in.

Swans responded with Carl Gibbs doing well to retain the ball on the right before getting in a cross that just failed to pick out Adam Fennell.

Gibbs himself was then just too short to get to a good ball over from the right by Francis Dolan. With just over half an hour played Gindre was booked after his momentum carried him over the right edge of Swans' penalty-box with the ball, and the resultant free-kick from Driscoll flew dangerously across the home goal-face.

Adam Thompson then only half cleared a right-side cross from Frost and Willmore lobbed just over the left, top corner from 20 yards out to the right.

With time running out in the first-half Lampton had Swans' best effort so far, bringing the ball forward before sending in a half-volley from 20 yards that Ashford keeper Burgess just prevented from dipping over his head.

But from another home attack the visitors broke away to catch Swans' defense short of numbers, and when Driscoll laid the ball off to Butler on the left he had time and space to beat Gindre with a left foot shot in to the far-corner.

Ashford soon had further chances in the second-half, former Swan Ross Davidson sending a free-kick forward for Willmore to get in unmarked to glance a header just wide, and Eggington heading a bouncing ball straight at Gindre.

David Cory and Gibbs continued to fight a losing battle up front against the excellent Davidson and other ex-Stompond Lane favorite Steve Croxford, and it was Croxford who should have stretched his side's lead, but he headed over at the far-post from Girvan's right-side free-kick.

Swans' push when it did come was far too late, the nearest they came to reducing the deficit being a 20 yard, left-foot shot from Fennell that flew just over the bar.

Match Statistics

Walton Team: Gindre, Dolan, Dowson, Thompson, Thurgood, Fennell, Lampton (Moorhouse 81), Gibbs (Christie 69), Cory, Blackman (Frontin 67), Wimble. Subs. not used: Savage, Batty.

Goalscorer for Ashford: Frost (3 mins.). Butler (42 mins.).

Cautions: Gindre (Walton), 32 mins., handball outside area. Cory (Walton), 81 mins., dissent. Willmore (Ashford), 87 mins., foul.