Monday 26 August 2002
Ryman League, Division One South
Bracknell Town 0 Walton & Hersham 1

A second-half strike from Ross Pickett gave Swans a win they just about deserved on a difficult playing surface at Bracknell on Monday afternoon. That made it two wins out of two over the Bank Holiday, although this was a less than convincing performance by Matt Alexander's side. Paul Harkness came in for Scott Edgar, and it was he set up the first half-chance after ten minutes following a scrappy start, crossing from the left for Richard Newbery to fire over as he had to stretch for a half-volley. Harkness was then put clear on the left by Francis Dolan, but with Newbery unmarked to his right Harkness failed to get the ball across, the same player then heading over at the far-post from Adam Fennell's free-kick.

Swans first real scare came when the home side broke away with Smith clear on the right, but as Laurence Batty left his line the Bracknell player's lob over him hit the side netting. With half an hour gone Dolan should have added to his three goals this season when Newbery set up Harkness for a super cross from the left, but faced with an open goal Dolan completely misjudged his header. Batty was well positioned to take a low free-kick from Baker as Bracknell began to look more dangerous, and when Adam Thompson lost the ball by the halfway line Hammonds played Glynn in on the left, but his shot dipped inches over the bar. Newbery just failed to make contact with a stooping header in the six-yard box, and Fennell's first-time shot from the edge of the box lacked the power to trouble home keeper Hutt. The half ended with Batty taking a header from Hammonds at the far-post from Harford's corner-kick.

As the second-half proceeded it began to look more and more as if the side who scored first would win the match, and with just under twenty minutes left it was Swans who broke the deadlock. Lee O'Donnell fired in a shot from 25 yards that struck a Bracknell defender for the ball to loop high over Hutt, who had left his goal-line. With the Bracknell keeper frantically trying to get back, the ball came back off the crossbar before falling to Pickett to the right of goal, and he lashed a splendid first-time volley in to the far-corner.

Harkness almost made it 2-0, but his far-post header from Newbery's cross from the right flew just wide. Baker had a well-struck free-kick deflected just over as Bracknell pressed forward, and after Underwood half-volleyed over Batty had to make a smart save at his near-post from Harte.

With a full six minutes of stoppage-time played Swans' were having to defend stoutly, but substitute Marcus Rose should have made it safe when he broke clear before taking the ball around Hutt who had rushed several yards out of his area. But with the goal open Rose rolled the ball agonisingly wide of the post.

Match Statistics

Walton Team: Batty, Dolan, Andrews, Dowson, Whelan, Thompson, Pickett, Fennell (Blackman 80), Harkness, Newbery (Rose 88), O'Donnell. Subs. not used: Laister, Edgar, Panter.

Goalscorer for Walton: Pickett (71 mins.).

Caution: Fennell (Walton), 78 mins., foul.