16/4/2008

Sport

Football - Swans strike back after going behind

Walton & Hersham            5      
Whyteleafe                         2

WALTON & Hersham fought back after going behind early on to beat Whyteleafe 5-2 at Stompond Lane on Saturday.

For the second home match in a row, poor defending from corner-kicks put Swans 2-0 down with barely 10 minutes on the watch.

As in the match against Walton Casuals they fought back to equalise, however this time they went further by not only registering their biggest win of the season, they also put an end to a 12-match winless streak and did the double over Whyteleafe.

This was achieved by a terrific second-half performance in tricky conditions as torrential rain showers hit Stompond Lane.

Swans' plans were upset when captain and key central defender Aaron Nowacki twisted an ankle in the pre-match warm-up and had to drop out, being replaced by 17-year-old Jordan Cheadle.

Only two minutes had been played when the visitors took a short corner on the right, and when the ball was crossed in, Rivers got between two defenders to head past goalkeeper Rob Webb.

After 11 minutes it was 2-0, this time Rivers heading home unchallenged from close-in from O'Flaherty's right-side corner.

Julien Thompson almost got in on goal when Jon Neal headed the ball on from James Campbell's long kick forward, but Swans were struggling to put attacks together.

However, Swans began to get on top as the first half progressed and Thompson was again denied when Jack Hollins made a good run on the left to get in a low cross.

With half time approaching Thompson broke into the left of the box and lifted the ball towards goal, only to be pulled back by Whyteleafe keeper Tolfrey.

Swans were awarded their first penalty kick since September and Neal made no mistake from the spot to send Swans into the break having halved the deficit.

Early in the second half Webb had to take two attempts to keep out a well-struck free kick from the left by Whyteleafe's MacLean.

His opposite number Tolfrey was soon making a fine tip over save as Moriarty took the second of two successive corners from the left and Neal got in a close-range header when Jenkins nodded the ball back at the far post.

But with nine minutes played of the half George crossed from the right forcing Reeve to clear the ball over his own goal, and when Cheadle took the corner from the right the ball ran loose and Thompson struck it into the top of the net.

The heavy rain showers that had started straight after half-time continued, making the conditions difficult, but Swans were making light of them, playing some fine football.

Midway through the half Swans took the lead with a terrific goal. Hollins crossed from the left into the penalty area, where George connected  with an overhead volley that sent the ball flying past Tolfrey.

With a quarter of an hour left, Moriarty laid the ball back to substitute Matt Martin 30 yards out and he struck a terrific low drive that Tolfrey did well in the conditions to keep out on his line.

Neal almost got Martin in on goal before Swans made the game safe in the 82nd minute, George running into the box to direct a header past Tolfrey when Moriarty sent a free kick in from deep on the left.

Another Moriarty free kick from a similar position led to the fifth goal in stoppage time, substitute Jack Watkins getting a slight touch to tuck the ball inside the post.

First printed in: News & Mail Series