Tuesday 30 September 2014. Ryman League, Division One South.
Redhill 2 Walton & Hersham 0.
This was another match Swans really should have got some reward from. The first-half was fairly even, with both sides having chances, but the first half an hour of the second-half Swans totally dominated. Again however they failed to take advantage of that domination, and with just over a quarter of an hour remaining they gifted the home side a goal. They were then caught on the break with a second goal that effectively killed the game off.
With Nathan Daly unavailable to carry on his ever-present record due to work commitments Yinka Salami was switched to right-back, and with Vernon Francis still injured Kwabena Osei made his first start in midfield.
Swans were almost caught cold by Redhill inside the first minute when Scott Harris got down the right to cross to the far-post, where the six foot plus Jordan Anderson headed wide.
Swans soon set up an attack when Julian Bartos put Josh Bonnett down the right to get in a low cross that was cut out by home goalkeeper Michael Hunter.
Redhill were very quick and direct on the break, and Tyrone Pink cut inside Dominic Ogun on the right before driving a low, left-foot shot just wide of the near-post. Then a misdirected back-pass by Louis Clark allowed Redhill to break clear down the left and cross the ball in low, but fortunately Ogun was able to get in a timely tackle in the middle to snuff out the danger.
Swans hit back with André Scarlett being played in on the right to get in a shot that Hunter pushed wide at the near-post. Ogun then drove a low shot wide from the edge of the box.
Swans still looked susceptible to a quick break, and Jevlon Campbell burst clear but shot wide from the edge of the box.
With twenty minutes played Bartos was almost played in for Swans and forced a corner, but Redhill immediately broke and Campbell got clear. Keeper Gary Ross was quickly out to close Campbell down, and he was forced into shooting over.
With half an hour played a superb diagonal pass by Clark picked out Bonnett inside the left of the box, but he was just denied by a home defender and had to settle for a corner-kick. Bartos then turned on the edge of the box to get in a low shot that Hunter took on his line. Swans’ best effort came in the final minute of the half however when a fine strike by Bonnett from just outside the left corner of the box brought a good save from Hunter, diving to his left to push the ball away.
Unfortunately Glace-Palmer could not resume for the second-half, having picked up a groin injury, with Andrew Juett replacing him, and he was soon being fouled five yards outside the box. Tarome Hemmings struck the free-kick superbly and it looked destined for the top, right-corner, but Hunter made a fine save to keep the ball out.
Juett was then just denied at the near-post when Ogun crossed a low ball from the left, the ball being put behind for a corner. With an hour played Bonnett got the ball over from the left and Hunter just got to it before Bartos.
Swans had dominated the second-half, but again had failed to capitalise when on top, and they were made to pay for that with a quarter of an hour left. Osei had just had to be replaced by Kadeem Ajean, having pulled a hamstring, when an innocuous long ball down the middle led to a mix-up between Ross and Clark, with neither taking responsibility, and Chris O’Flaherty was left to get possession and score with a simple tap-in.
With ten minutes remaining Ajeon got clear into the left of the box, but he chose to pass inside rather than shoot and another chance went begging.
Swans continued to push forward in search of the equaliser, and they were caught out again with eight minutes remaining when a cross from the left was converted in-off the bar from close-in by Gavin Gordon.
In the final minute Hemmings turned on the edge of the box to have a shot deflected over, but in stoppage-time Ross had to make a good save to prevent another goal when Redhill broke again.
Swans’ Team: Gary Ross, Yinka Salami, Dominic Ogun, André Scarlett, Louis Clark, Daniel Ranger, Tarome Hemmings, Kwabena Osei (Kadeem Ajeon 71’), Louis Glace-Palmer (Andrew Juett 45’), Julian Bartos (Jack Battie 79’), Josh Bonnett. Subs. not used: Sacha Mbaye, Marvin Farrell. Cautions: Glace-Palmer, foul (42’), Clark, dissent (74’).
Redhill Team: Hunter, Duke, Hill, Harris, Difford, Anderson, Pink, Howard-Bold (Gordon 64’ [Cousins 84’]), Campbell, McArdle (O’Flaherty 16’), Bingham. Subs. not used: Owusu-Ansah, Faith. Scorers: O’Flaherty (74’), Gordon (82’). Caution: Campbell, foul (59’).
