Tuesday 16 August 2016. Cherry Red Combined Counties League, Premier Division.
North Greenford United 1 Walton & Hersham 2.
Elliott Simpson’s fine strike with just two minutes remaining gave Swans their first win in their new league, but they were pushed all the way by the home side, who did enough to indicate there are some tough matches ahead in The Combined Counties League.
They made a change to their set-up, with Lea Van Sullivan reverting to right-back as Anthony Charles returned in central defence and Howard Newton moving into midfield.
The home side pushed forward in the opening stages, Swans’ goalkeeper Liam Beach taking a driven cross from the right down at his near-post. Sandro Costa then cut in from the left to drive a cross past the far-post, and an attack on the right led to a cross going over.
Swans threatened the home goal with just over ten minutes played when Seb Castello’s diagonal ball from the left found Howard Newton in space on the right, and when he volleyed the ball in Matt Rose-Hazel drove a chance over.
But North Greenford took the lead after twelve minutes when Costa cut in from the left and his shot went through a crowded box to find the far-corner.
Swans quickly responded with Simpson getting past his marker on the right, but his low cross could not find Rose-Hazel in the middle.
The home side’s Anthony O’Connor was unmarked at the far-post to meet a cross from the left, but fortunately his header was straight at Beach.
Swans soon equalised after eighteen minutes when TJ Nkoma put over a good cross from the left and Rose-Hazel leapt at the near-post to flick a header home.
Howard Newton ran onto a through ball and went down in the box, but any thoughts of a penalty were denied.
After half an hour Swans conceded a needless corner on the right, and Dan Vincent’s kick had to be cleared away.
Rose-Hazell was fouled after good play wide on the left, but Simpson’s free-kick went across goal and over. Nkoma played Howard Newton clear on the right to get the ball into the six-yard box, but both Rose-Hazel and Simpson were just denied.
The home side continued to look threatening, and George Moore cut in from the left to strike a shot wide, and when the same player drove the ball over from the left Beach had to dive to put it round the far-post.
Swans had to make a change for the second-half with Connor Channon coming on for Jamie Thoroughgood.
Beach had to fall on the ball at the second attempt at the far-post when North Greenford put over a dangerous cross from the right, and when a soft free-kick was conceded on the right, Moore’s kick led to a glancing header going wide.
Swans responded with Simpson getting into the right of the box to get in a shot that home keeper Cesare Vernazza did well to push away.
Just past the hour Swans almost gifted the home side a second goal with an awful back-pass that allowed a clear chance on the left, but fortunately the shot found the side-netting. North Greenford then played a short corner on the right, and the ball had to be scrambled clear at the far-post as the cross came in.
Swans soon had a chance at the other end when Simpson played Nkoma into the left of the six-yard box, but his shot was saved by Vernazza at the near-post.
Beach had to make a fine save, diving to his left to push the ball wide when a strong shot came in from the edge of the box.
As the match entered the final five minutes Howard Newton made a good run forward before driving a shot over from outside of the box.
But with the match looking like ending in another draw for Swans, Rose-Hazel did well to get into the box on the left before laying the ball back. Simpson was found on the edge of the box, and he made space for himself before striking a fine shot into the bottom left corner.
Swans’ Team: Liam Beach, Lea Van Sullivan, Jake Newton, Louis Taylor, Anthony Charles, Jamie Thoroughgood (Connor Channon 45.), Howard Newton, Seb Castello (Cameron Gyeabour 79’), Matt Rose-Hazel, Elliott Simpson, TJ Nkoma. Subs. not used: Sam Bates, Corey Haywood-Roye. Scorers: Rose-Hazel (18’), Simpson (88’). Caution: Simpson (45+3’).
North Greenford Team: Vernazza, Ansah-Palmer, Muller, Monroe, Velinor, Rowlands, O’Connor (Bower 81’), Trowers (Mills 61’), Moore, Vincent, Costa (Conner 90+1’). Subs. not used: Brown, Gradwell. Scorer: Costa (12’). Cautions: Costa (70’), Muller (73’).
