Saturday 20 February 2016. Ryman League, Division One South.
Chatham Town 4 Walton & Hersham 0.
Swans would have earmarked this game as one they would need to get something from if they were to ease their relegation fears, but any plans they had were blown away in the first ten minutes. By that time they were already 2-0 down, and things could well have got worse as the first-half progressed as the home side continued to dominate, creating but spurning more chances. Any thoughts Swans could hit back in the second-half were dashed as another goal five minutes before the break settled it for Chatham.
Four more new signings were introduced; Michael Kinsella and Vince Smith, both from Staines Town, Troy Williams from Merstham, and former Swan Sam Butler, who has been at Chipstead this season. Mekhail McLaughlin had been recalled from his loan spell by Metropolitan Police, while Tomasz Caracciolo reported sick.
The home side pressurised from the off, and with just six minutes played the ball was driven across goal from the right, resulting in a shot being cleared off the line for a corner on the left. From the kick George Humber was allowed the time and space to score.
Four minutes later the ball was again driven across goal from the right by Luke Medley, and Ricky Gundry was unmarked at the far-post to make it 2-0.
Humber was soon being played through on the right, but his shot was taken by Swans’ goalkeeper Liam Beach, and a header was put over at the far-post when Chatham sent in a cross from the left. Swans continued to be put under pressure as they struggled to keep possession, and when the ball was played to Medley on the left his shot brought a fine tip-over save from Beach.
It was 21 minutes in before Swans got some passes together and Vince Smith was played into space on the right, but his cross was easily gathered by home keeper Ryan Nichols.
Chatham were soon playing a short corner on the left, and Beach had to punch away from his line as the cross came in.
Just before the half hour Williams cut inside from the left for Swans to create an opening 22 yards out, but he shot well over. Nichols was soon brought into serious action for the first time when Gianfranco Mici was played in on the right, but his shot was pushed away by the Chatham keeper.
The home side soon had further chances, the ball being put wide at the far-post when Liam Hickey crossed from the left, and Medley driving a shot over. With the strong wind making play unpredictable Swans may have thought they could mount a comeback in the second-half, but five minutes before the break Richard Davies got to the byline on the right, and when the cross took a deflection Humber was at the far-post to nod home from close-in.
Mici did well on the right for Swans before getting in a high cross that went across goal with Richard Pacquette unable to get a touch.
Swans made a double substitution for the second-half with Michael Salako and Cristiano Goncalves-Neto coming on and Mici and Vince Smith being replaced. But before they could make any impact Chatham had made it 4-0 just four minutes in. Medley was allowed to get to the byline on the right before crossing into the box. An overhead kick put the ball onto the head of Gundry and it went in off the far-post.
Swans soon had a chance when Gareth Chendlik was brought down in a position that looked just inside the penalty-area, but despite concerted appeals a free-kick was awarded outside. Butler took the kick, but disappointingly drove the ball straight into the defensive wall.
Swans had come more into the game, but they still continued to give chances at the other end. Chatham got down the left to hit a cross-field pass that picked out Davies in yards of space on the right, but he drove the ball across goal and wide. The home side were then given far too much freedom to build up play on the right, and when the ball was played inside to Khari Oriogun, he sent in a shot from the edge of the box that Beach did superbly to tip over.
Orlando Smith had replaced Butler for Swans, and with seven minutes left he made space just outside the box, but his shot was straight at keeper Nichols. There were then more appeals for a penalty when Salako’s shot from inside the box appeared to be blocked by an arm, but as play continued Smith sent a shot dipping over. The last action, three minutes into stoppage-time, saw Chendlik thread a clever ball through from the right to Pacquette, but he was just closed out by Nichols.
Swans’ Team: Liam Beach, Michael Kinsella, Dylan Casey, Joe Wallbanks, Lea Van Sullivan, Troy Williams, Vince Smith (Cristiano Goncalves-Neto 45’), Sam Butler (Orlando Smith 59’), Gareth Chendlik, Richard Pacquette, Gianfranco Mici (Michael Salako 45’). Subs. not used: Kambo Smith, Jamil Okai. Cautions: Williams (70’), Goncalves-Neto (90+2’).
Chatham Team: Nichols, Davies, Butler (Bray 73’), Osei, Difford, Hickey, Gundry, Loft (Collins 73’), Humber, Oriogun, Medley. Subs. not used: Edwards, Obasa. Scorers: Humber (6’ & 40’), Gundry (10’ & 49’). Cautions: Medley (68’), Gundry (86’).
