Saturday 28 September 2002
FA Cup, 2nd Qualifying Round
Walton & Hersham 1 Chesham United 0

Just six minutes of normal time remained at Stompond Lane on Saturday, and it was not only looking as if Swans would be prevented from scoring for the first time this season, but that they would be denied a deserved win over their Premier Division opponents. But then Paul Harkness popped up in the six-yard box to squeeze a shot past former Swans� keeper Delroy Preddie and put his side in to the 3rd Qualifying Round. Only the most biased supporter of the Bucks club would begrudge Matt Alexander�s side their win, as they were the better side throughout an excellent 90 minutes of cup football, although it could be argued it was the visitors who had the clearer chances.

Swans attacked from the start and when Lee O�Donnell played Francis Dolan in on the right, a fine move ended with Marcus Rose just failing to direct his header at the far-post. But Chesham almost opened the scoring after ten minutes with their first attack of any note, the tricky Kandol deceiving Alan Dowson in the penalty box, but putting his shot wide of the right-post with only Laurence Batty to beat. Nicky Andrews and O�Donnell combined well to create an opening for Richard Newbery, but he shot over from 20 yards, before Swans� goal had another escape. As Batty came out to close down Kandol to the left of the box, the Chesham striker nodded a bouncing ball over him, but fortunately for the home side the ball came back off the right-post, with the lurking Hunter just failing to get to the rebound. Swans immediately replied with their best chance so far when Scott Edgar set up Newbery to the left of goal, but his low shot did not carry sufficient power to beat Preddie, who was able to dive and turn the ball round his right-post.

Ten minutes before the break Walton were indebted to Batty, who pulled off a superb one-handed save to his left from a powerful shot from ten yards by Hunter, who had been teed up by Kandol. Preddie had to be quick off his line to deny Newbery, who had been played in by a good ball from Harkness, who then put a 20 yard shot wide of the right-post from Newbery�s knock-back.

Swans continued to carry the fight to their opponents as the second-half began, and when Dolan and Harkness combined on the right for Harkness to set up Newbery, Preddie had to dive full length to prevent the ball entering the far-corner. Chesham still looked dangerous on the break, Dogbe flicking the ball wide after Scarlett and Neill had combined on the right, Batty then making a good save to push the ball round his near-post after Kandol had tricked his way in on the left.

But it was soon Preddie�s turn to keep his side in the game, pushing away a fine strike by Harkness, who had made a surging run forward to the left edge of the box. However Harkness was soon to turn the tables on the visitors� keeper as Newbery found space to the left of goal before putting the ball inside to Ross Pickett. Pickett, on as a substitute for O�Donnell, hooked the ball over his head towards goal, where Harkness was waiting to fire in a shot. Preddie appeared to get his body behind the ball, only for it to slip past him and over the goal-line.

Preddie and most of his team-mates immediately laid siege to the referee�s assistant, more in frustration at seeing their replay hopes dashed, than in any optimism at getting the goal ruled out. Cooper and Preddie were both booked for their protestations and Swans held out comfortably for a splendid win.

Match Statistics

Walton Team: Batty, Dolan, O�Donnell (Pickett 79), Dowson, Whelan, Blackman, Andrews, Harkness, Edgar (Savage 90), Newbery (Loney 90), Rose. Subs. not used: Garrard, Thompson.

Goalscorer for Walton: Harkness (84 mins.).

Cautions: O�Donnell (Walton), 17 mins., foul. Scarlett (Chesham), 44 mins., foul. Cooper (Chesham), 84 mins., dissent. Preddie (Chesham), 84 mins., dissent. Kandol (Chesham), 90 mins., dissent.