Defeat in the cup replay at Walton & Hersham

The Emirates FA Cup first preliminary round replay

Walton & Hersham 4

Johl Powell (35′)
Josh Tobin (83′)
Nana Owusu (98′ pen)
Nana Owusu (116′)

Hanworth Villa 2

Finlay Macnab (57′)
Guy Ansah-Palmer (63′)

Match report

After a six goal thriller at Rectory Meadow supporters were treated to something similar at the Xcel as we eventually fell 4-2 to Walton & Hersham in extra time.

After 90 minutes the score was 2-2 and the deadlock was broken in the first half by a refereeing decision that bemused and irritated in equal measure.

How we lined up

Starting eleven

1 Mark Smith
2 Ali Mansaray
3 Aston Nunn
4 Guy Ansah-Palmer
20 Manny Parry
6 George Wells (C)
7 Theo Crawford
8 Sam Mead
9 Sam Merson
10 Finlay Macnab
11 Quincy Patterson

On the bench

5 Rayan Djouadj (replaced Ansah-Palmer 106′)
12 Dylan Randall (replaced Merson 33′)
13 Conrad Knight
14 Joshua Millo (replaced Nunn 45′)
15 Christian Jolley
16 Bruno Robertson-Tingle (replaced Macnab 105+1)
17 Liam O’Neill

The first half

The first half was very much a tactical battle with Villa set up to block and frustrate. Walton & Hersham had much of the possession but it seemed that Hanworth had learned their lessons and for the most part kept the home team at bay.

The home team had a few shots but a combination of great positional work from Mark Smith and some wayward shooting meant that the game remained goalless for the first half hour.

A shot from Olyott stinging the gloves of our keeper a good reminder of the fire power the Swans have if you let them get close enough to shoot.

Quincy Patterson had our best chance of the half making a dash into the box before driving in a shot that Barker saved comfortably.

On 31’ the game changed as our talisman Sam Merson went down injured. A couple of minutes of treatment followed until the decision was made to replace him with Dylan Randall. However it was only moments later – when Walton & Hersham broke the deadlock.

The Swans were allowed to pass the ball across at the back as much as they liked and never really looked like penetrating, that was until the impressive Tobin spotted the run of Powell and looped a beautiful pass over the top of the defence straight into his path which he chested down and slotted past Smith in the Villa goal.

Goal: Tobin 35’ – W&H 1 v 0 Villa

Our resolved held and a last minute save from Smith from a Owusu free kick meant we went in at the break with only the one goal deficit.

Half time: 1:0

We made a change at half time as Millo came on for the industrious Nunn. Patterson switched from the left to the right and Villa began to put in a more attacking, front foot performance. George Wells gave a real captain’s performance as the game went on, dragging the team up the pitch while breaking up attacks at the back.

On the 54th minute Wells – now on free kick duties with Merson off the pitch – unleashed a fierce kick which floored Olyott, who was then substituted by Obeng.

On 57’ Macnab scored the simplest of goals as he pounced on a backpass from Procter and tucked the ball away past the keeper.

Goal: Macnab 57’ – W&H 1 v 1 Villa

As in the previous game the momentum then switched to Villa as the visitors continued to take the game to the home side. On 63’ Wells headed from short range from a corner, Barker in the goal saved then dropped the ball and, on his first start of the season, Guy Ansah Palmer poked the ball over the line. With the dreadful floodlighting and the distance to the press box it took several minutes for us to ascertain who scored.

Goal: Guy Ansah Palmer’ – W&H 1 v 2 Villa

Back came Walton & Hersham with efforts on the Villa goal. Obeng came close with a header from an Owusu cross but saw his shot go wide.

Villa continued to press and looked more likely to score at this stage, Wells bringing out an excellent save from a delightfully placed free kick to prevent the ball sneaking in the top right hand corner of the game.

Walton & Hersham made several substitutions to try and claw back the initiative and sure enough on 83’ the got the equaliser to break Villa hearts. Bolton received the ball on the edge of the box and a dribble of a shot trundled past the unsighted keeper to make it two a piece.

Goal: Bolton 83’ – W&H 2 v 2 Villa

Full time and onto extra time

The extra time went a similar way to regular time with Walton & Hersham having the bulk of possession and Villa exploiting the space on the break. Owusu coming close at one and and Ansah Palmer heading just wide at the other.

The match turned following a poor decision from the referee when Body went down in the box running away from goal and the ref – we presume – guessed there’d been contact and pointed the spot.

The howls of derision around the ground were echoed by the Walton & Hersham fans behind us in the commentary box that it was never a penalty. Seasons are made and lost by decisions like this. It had just been mentioned minutes before that the ref looked tired and this showed later on when he made rash decisions to send Manny Parry off for a straight red (for comments he’d misheard apparently) and our manager – protesting at the dismissal, off.

Perhaps there needs to be substitutions for the officials when it goes into extra time. This isn’t the first time I’ve witnessed referees at this level struggling towards the end of the game. Is should add that this is my opinion and not that of the club.

The ball placed on the penalty spot – Owusu stepped up and smashed the ball home.

Goal: Owusu 98’ – W&H 3 v 2 Villa

The thing about poor decisions is that while they’re inevitable from time to time they can unsettle the officials too and I’m not sure the ref really regained his composure after this incident. It may well have become clear to him quite quickly that he’d made an error. Was a real shame as both teams were going for it and it would have been nice if the game could have been settled in open play.

With Villa pushing for an equaliser the Swans were always likely to find room for another attack and sure enough Body turned Robertson-Tingle sending a ball across the goal to the top corner but the save from Smith saw the ball out.

Shortly before the end of the game Walton & Hersham wrapped up all the points when Uwusu converted with a shot across the goal.

Goal: Owusu 116’ – W&H 4 v 2 Villa

As the game reached it’s conclusion the ref once again found himself the main story as he produced a straight red to Manny Parry to the incredulity and bemusement of the crowd. Many felt it a little petty and incendiary. It certainly riled our manager who was also asked to leave the dug out following his reaction.

The match finished 4-2 to the Swans. A great, determined performance from our boys over the two games. Lots to be proud of.