Wednesday 11 February 2015. Ryman League, Division One South.
Burgess Hill Town 2 Walton & Hersham 2.
Before kick-off Swans would probably have settled for a draw away to the only side in the top eight tiers of British football to remain unbeaten in their league, but after leading 2-0 at the break they were harbouring thoughts of being the side to end that proud record. A defensive mix-up however got the home side back into the match, and after then conceding an equaliser Swans had to dig deep to hang on to a worthy, precious point.
Martin Beard was brought into the side at left-back along with new signing from Walton Casuals Josh Cover, with Louis Clark and André Scarlett dropping to the bench.
Swans got off to a great start, taking the lead after just five minutes with a superb goal. A probing attack led to the ball coming to Anthony Oaks five yards outside the box on the left, and he struck a terrific, left-foot shot past home goalkeeper Josh James.
The home side were stung into action, and Swans’ keeper Gary Ross had to save at his near-post when Darren Budd drove in a shot from the right of the box. Ross then got well behind a low shot from outside the box on the left from Rob O’Toole. Burgess Hill won a free-kick 25 yards out, but O’Toole drove the ball over the bar.
Swans immediately got forward, and when James Cottee got the ball into the box from the right Cover almost capitalised on indecision between keeper James and a defender.
With 20 minutes played a ball down the middle put Burgess Hill’s Graham Martin clear, but as Ross came out he slid the ball wide of the right-post.
James had to take a flicked header from Andrew Mensah when Oaks crossed from the left, but the home side broke away down the right, and Ross dashed out of his box but failed to clear the ball. The ball was crossed to the far-post, but a header dropped onto the top of the net. With half an hour played Burgess Hill took a free-kick from the right touchline and Sam Fisk put the ball wide at the far-post.
But Swans soon stunned the home side and crowd by doubling their lead. Beard played the ball down the left to send Cover bursting into the box, and keeper James came dashing across and brought him down. A penalty was awarded and James shown a yellow card before being beaten from the spot by Cottee.
Ross got well behind a free-kick driven in from 30 yards by Budd, but Swans went in at the break leading 2-0.
Unfortunately Mensah could not resume for the second-half, being replaced by Dylan Cascoe after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury, and his strength and power up front was to be missed.
Swans needed to be solid and disciplined in defence for the second-half to withstand the expected pressure from the home side, but unfortunately their lead was halved just over ten minutes in as they conceded a poor goal. Burgess Hill were allowed to get into the left of the box, and when the ball ran loose Ross tried to kick it clear, but it merely rebounded back towards goal, and in the ensuing scramble the ball went in off the Swans’ keeper.
The home side continued to put pressure on the Swans’ defence, pushing them deep, and when Dan Pearse crossed from the right a far-post header had to be tipped over by Ross. Another dangerous cross from the right had to be cleared behind by Harry Mills, and from the corner the ball was cleared away from under the crossbar.
Swans found it difficult to keep the ball up front, but Cascoe did get in a low shot from the right, but only found the side-netting. But the equaliser finally came with 68 minutes played. The ball again came over from the right, and this time substitute Joe Keehan drove it home.
Although Swans continued to struggle to mount attacks, Cottee almost got in, but James was quickly out to fall on the ball.
As the match entered the last quarter of an hour Swans began to have more possession and the home side looked less dangerous. The last scare came in stoppage-time when Pearse got in on the right to drive in a shot that Ross beat away, and a follow-up header was gratefully clutched by the Swans’ keeper.
Swans’ Team: Gary Ross, Nathan Daly, Martin Beard (Louis Clark 75’), Anthony Oaks, Jahmahl King, Harry Mills, Tarome Hemmings, Vernon Francis, Andrew Mensah (Dylan Cascoe 45’), James Cottee, Joshua Cover (André Scarlett 68’). Subs. not used: Jack Battie, Gareth Chendlik. Scorers: Oaks (5’), Cottee, penalty (32’). Cautions: Cottee (41’), Mills (64’), Ross (67’), Oaks (73’).
Burgess Hill Team: James, Slaughter, Fisk, Budd (Kirkwood 77’), Pearson, Tuck, Pearse, Martin (Keehan 45’), P. Harding, L. Harding, O’Toole (Perry 45’). Subs. not used: Franzen-Jones, Miles. Scorers: Ross, own goal (56’), Keehan (68’). Cautions: James (32’), Budd (42’).
