Tuesday 12 March 2013. Ryman League, Division One South.

Merstham 2 Walton & Hersham 1.

Swans had a great chance of picking up much-needed points after leading 1-0 and looking solid, but their hopes were dashed in a two minute spell midway through the second-half as the home side hit back with two goals. Swans had gone close to scoring several times in the first-half before Chris Wales put them ahead from the penalty-spot ten minutes after the resumption, but two distinctly avoidable goals condemned them to another defeat.

Graeme Purdy was again rested to avoid further damage to his groin injury, with George Griffiths being given his first start for the senior side. Unfortunately the former prolific youth team striker only lasted half an hour as he suffered what seemed to be a recurrence of the knee injury that had seen him sidelined for the best part of eighteen months. With Adriano Moraes having been released by the club Steve Betancourt returned, as did Greg Ngeno, who came in for Chris Grayland.

A misplaced pass by Wales almost gifted Merstham a ninth minute lead as it enabled Jack MacLeod to break on the right before driving in a low cross. Wales had got back into the box and was fortunate to see the ball take a deflection off him and pass wide of the far-post.

Wales was soon trying his luck at the other end, but his half-volley from 22 yards dipped over. With twenty minutes played Wales took a free-kick from deep on the right for Ngeno to head the ball down at the far-post, but Betancourt was just denied from getting a shot in. Ross Nunn then sent a well-struck volley wide of the far-post after the ball had dropped to him inside the right-corner of the box.

Merstham immediately broke and Ngeno had to get in a good tackle in the box to deny them an opening.

Griffiths then had to retire with his knee injury, former youth team colleague Kelvin Karanja coming on to replace him.

With just over half an hour played Wales cut into the box from the right to get in a well-struck, low left-foot shot that took a deflection to pass wide. The home side broke away from the resultant corner for Lee Newman to cut in from the right, but with the chance opening up his final shot was weak and straight at Swans’ goalkeeper Audie Matheson-Light.

With ten minutes left to the break John Clark sent in a long throw from the left for Ngeno to get a nod on to Ellis, but his instinctive header went just over. Ngeno then put a header wide at the far-post when Wales took a free-kick from the left.

MacLeod made a tricky run on the right for Merstham to play the ball in low, and it took a good interception by Stewart Luwawa to prevent an opening.

Swans took a deserved lead ten minutes into the second-half after a move down the left initiated by Nunn led to Ellis being tripped in the box by Dean Gunner. Despite the delaying tactics of Merstham keeper Oshane Brown, Wales was unerring from the spot.

The home side went close to equalising immediately when they broke into the left of the box. When the ball was laid back a shot was cleared off the line, and a follow-up blocked away.

Swans however then went close to doubling their lead as Ellis broke on the right before laying the ball inside to Karanja, but his fine effort from the edge of the box went just over.

Merstham responded with Rob Carter driving in a low shot from out on the right that Matheson-Light dived to his left to push round the post.

Swans had another chance when Karanja laid the ball inside from the right to Nunn, but after making space he shot wide.

The game was then to change midway through the second-half. Ngeno, who had had a terrific game up to that point, was quickly closed down before he could get the ball clear on Swans’ left, and Merstham got possession before crossing low to the far-post. Former Swans’ loan player Greg Andrews, having joined Merstham from Walton Casuals earlier in the day, had come on as a substitute after an hour, and he had the simple task of driving the ball inside the left-post.

Two minutes later Merstham were in the lead. Ngeno was penalised for a foul 25 yards out and a free-kick awarded. Matheson-Light could only dive to his left to push the ball away as the kick was curled in, but the ball was not cleared and the keeper had to block another shot. The ball then seemed to spend an eternity in Swans’ box without being cleared, and Gunner was finally left with a simple tap-in at the left-post.

With a quarter of an hour left Swans introduced new signing from Metropolitan Police, Harry Wise. The 19 year old central defender had started as a youth player with AFC Wimbledon, but was released from a pro-contract with them in January.

Wales sent in a fine half-volley from 35 yards that dipped over, but Merstham went close to extending their lead when they broke away from a Swans’ free-kick and Andrews struck a shot against the post.

Swans certainly deserved at least a point, and they should have had the opportunity to secure one in the final minute of normal-time. Ellis was played into the right of the box and he was sent tumbling with a blatant, two-handed push in the back from a home defender, but what looked a clear penalty was not awarded.

Swans’ Team: Audie Matheson-Light, Courtney Warren, Liam Flanighan (Kwame Rennalls 86’), Steve Betancourt, Greg Ngeno, Chris Wales, Jaymo Ellis, Stewart Luwawa (Harry Wise 75’), Ross Nunn, George Griffiths (Kelvin Karanja 29’), John Clark. Subs. not used: Matt Holliday, Chris Manderson. Scorer: Wales, penalty (55’). Cautions: Ngeno, foul (68’), Wales, dissent (70’), Nunn, foul (83’).

Merstham Team: Brown, Carter, Wedgeworth, Gunner, Hemmings (I’Anson 75’), Henriques, MacLeod, Moriarty (Andrews 59’), Newman (Stone 72’), Saraiva, Holland. Subs. not used: Hope, Tauta. Scorers: Andrews (67’), Gunner (69’). Cautions: Gunner, foul (54’), MacLeod, foul (57’), Henriques, foul (82’).