Tuesday 20 October 2015. Ryman League, Division One South.
Walton & Hersham 0 Chipstead 1.
Before this match the visitors had just two points in the league, but they increased it to five on the evening with their first win, four of those points coming from matches against Swans. This made it four home defeats on the spin for Swans, after they had opened the season by winning their first three matches at Stompond Lane.
They could not have got off to a worse start, with Dominic Ogun being sent off after less than three minutes, and then going their customary goal down after just six. Although the sides were numerically balanced up just before half-time with Chipstead’s Sam Charles being red-carded, and Swans having chances and the bulk of the play, they could not make a breakthrough.
Several changes were made from the previous Saturday’s line-up, with C-J. Williams and André Scarlett returning in place of Shannon Wallace and Jack Battie, who had suffered a cut head against Chatham. Dan Thompson and Shaquille McIntosh also started in place of Shawn Lyle and the unfit Aaron Watson.
Ogun’s dismissal, his second in the three matches against Chipstead this season, came when he was judged to have gone in with a dangerous tackle on Charles. Before Swans could reorganise the visitors were allowed possession in the left of the box, and when Charlie Carter was found at the far-post he had a simple chance to score. After a quarter of an hour Chipstead’s Greg Andrews had a shot from the edge of the box deflected over.
Swans had a chance when Harry Mills seized on a poor clearance 25 yards out with space in front of him, but he hurried his shot and drove well wide of the right post. Mills was then played down the right to cross low to the near-post, where Thompson put wide under pressure. Just before the half hour Myles Powponne got the ball in from the left and Thompson drove in a low shot from 25 yards that forced Chips’ goalkeeper Milan Stojsavljevic to dive to his right and deflect the ball wide.
Swans were then fortunate when Bobby Webbe took a free-kick from out on the right, and when the ball ran loose Steve Betancourt struck a shot against the right post.
Powponne sent in a high cross into the box from the left for Swans and Thompson was just denied from getting in a header.
The teams were balanced up numerically after 37 minutes when Chipstead’s Charles caught Powponne with a poor tackle and was shown a straight red card.
Kerry Kedze got down the left for the visitors, and when he laid the ball back to Carter 25 yards out, he had a low shot deflected wide of the left post.
In the final minute of the half Swans’ Kadeem Ajeon took a free-kick from the right and the ball was deflected behind for a corner.
Swans had a chance just two minutes after the resumption when Powponne played Thompson in on the left, hut he dragged a low, left-foot shot wide of the far-post. Then a good build-up led to Scarlett getting in a fine strike from 25 yards that Stojsavljevic beat down on his line.
Chipstead then had a chance when Webbe played Andrews into the box on the right, but he could only find the side-netting with a strong shot. James Richmond then just got across to deny Carter, who had been played clear down the middle.
Swans began to have the better of the play, and when McIntosh got into the right of the box his cross was deflected for a corner. Lyle was then played in on the right to get in a powerful, low shot that Stojsavljevic did well to block at his near-post.
Swans’ best chance to salvage something from the match came six minutes from time however when a ball from the right found Thompson on his own by the penalty-spot, but with just Stojsavljevic to beat he turned to strike a half-volley straight at the keeper, who beat the ball away.
Swans continued to press hard, but it was Chipstead who had a chance in the final minute of normal-time when they won a free-kick 40 yards out on the left, and Andrews’ shot was pushed round the right post by keeper Sean Fallon. Despite substitutions, numerous stoppages and time wasting by the visitors, just over two minutes of additional time was played, that soon ran out on Swans’ chances.
Swans’ Team: Sean Fallon, C-J. Williams-Agunabor, Dominic Ogun, Regan Mendes, James Richmond, Harry Mills, André Scarlett, Kadeem Ajeon (James King 89’), Dan Thompson, Shaquille McIntosh (David Koduah 72’), Myles Powponne (Shawn Lyle 62’). Subs. not used: Ryan Marklew, Shannon Wallace. Dismissal: Ogun, serious foul play (3’).
Chipstead Team: Stojsavljevic, Charles, Brown, Betancourt, Roberts, Webbe, Carter, Graham, Panayitiou, Andrews, Kedze (Ogeah 62’). Subs. not used: Murphy, Mole, Murray-Price, Atkin. Scorer: Carter (6’). Dismissal: Charles, serious foul play (37’). .
