Saturday 24 August 2002
Ryman League, Division One South
Walton & Hersham 5 Chertsey Town 2

Two late goals for Swans finally gave the score the convincing look that should have been achieved much earlier against near neighbours who look as if they will have a season of struggle in the new Division One South. The early play saw Swans build up attacks almost at will, Adam Fennell and Lee O'Donnell both testing the visitors stand-in keeper Pisani. It came as no surprise when they took the lead after a quarter of an hour, Richard Newbery running on to the ball to hit a splendid shot in to the roof of the net from 20 yards. But five minutes later, in the visitors' first attack of note, Burton played the ball past Adam Thompson on the left before going to ground in the penalty area. Thompson was somewhat harshly adjudged to have fouled Burton, who himself beat Laurence Batty from the penalty spot.

Swans took only a minute to restore their lead, Francis Dolan cutting back in on the right of the box before sending an unstoppable left-foot shot in to the far, top corner of the net. But once again the lead was soon squandered as Chris Whelan attempted to head back to Batty, but the ball fell woefully short, allowing Davies to nip in and lob the stranded keeper. Fennell fired just over from the right before Chertsey almost shocked Swans by taking the lead. Davies fired in a free-kick from 25 yards that Batty just managed to get fingers to, deflecting the ball on to the bar, with Mercer following up to put wide of a gaping goal. Just a minute before the break Dolan eased Swans' concern by getting in a super header at the near-post to Fennell's left-side corner, the ball flashing past a startled Pisani.

Swans proceeded to dominate the second-half, with Nicky Andrews finishing a patient build-up by crossing from the left to the far-post where Fennell's header was blocked, and substitute Paul Harkness putting a fine chance wide after finding clear space on the right. Andrews tested Pisani with a first-time half-volley after running on to Newbery's head on, but too often Swans' final ball lacked quality.

But with a quarter of an hour left Ross Pickett did finish off a fine move with a good cross from the right, Adam Fennell powering a header in to the net from six yards. Thompson made a surging run forward before rattling the right-post with a well-struck shot, but Swans almost paid the penalty for more slack defending when Burton put a free header wide after a high ball in to the box was not dealt with. The same player then tested Batty with a low shot after Maloney had laid the ball back.

With two minutes of stoppage time played Marcus Rose finally made the scoreline more reflective of the game by firing in a low shot from 20 yards that just beat Pisani at his left-post after Dolan had nodded the ball back on the right.

Match Statistics

Walton Team: Batty, Dolan, Andrews, Dowson, Whelan, Thompson, Pickett, Fennell (Rose 78), Edgar (Harkness 45), Newbery (Panter 78), O'Donnell. Subs. not used: Blackman, Laister.

Goalscorers for Walton: Newbery (15 mins.). Dolan (21 & 44 mins.). Fennell (75 mins.). Rose (90 mins.).

Goalscorers for Chertsey: Burton, penalty (20 mins.). Davies (25 mins.).

Cautions: Pickett (Walton), 29 mins., foul. Vercesi (Chertsey), 79 mins., foul.