Match Preview
Walton & Hersham v Tiverton Town
Saturday 22nd February
Last weekend's victory at Poole was a welcome and timely boost in the Yellows’ battle against the drop. This will be the first matchday in a while, when if we were to pull off victory and results were to go for us that an outside possibility exists for Rob Dray's men to climb out of the bottom Four.
The win which was the first fixture in a Five game sequence targeted by the manager, in having a significant bearing on the outcome of our season, was well earned.
Physio Tony Cornish has assessed the fitness of a number of players throughout the week and final judgements will be made ahead of kick off at Walton & Hersham. Asa Hall (illness) and Gabe Billington (injured) weren’t able to join the travelling party to Poole.
A colossal challenge will face Tiverton though, in London. Comfortably nestled in a Play-off position, Walton & Hersham are widely recognised as a good footballing side who are very strong on the 3G, at their Elmbridge Sport’s hub home. However, Tiverton did upset the form book in the reverse fixture, Winning 1-0.
Since suffering a 5-2 defeat at Merthyr over the Christmas period, our hosts have gone on a Seven game unbeaten run. Quickly rectifying a home draw against one of our relegation rival’s Frome, by returning to winning ways at Sholing. Only Taunton have returned back from Walton & Hersham with all Three points.
The Swans’ boss Billy Rowley had huge shoes to fill when he replaced the most successful manager in the club’s history, Scott Harris. He was appointed for the 2023/24 season and had been part of Harris’s coaching team for the previous 4 campaigns. During that time Walton & Hersham achieved Two promotions.
In a rich vein of form is former Charlton Athletic midfielder Johl Powell. He has netted Seven goals in his last Six games and will definitely need close attention. Up until this season Powell’s football career since being released by The Addicks, has been played out in National League South with; Maidstone, Dulwich, Tonbridge and Dover.
Forward David Rogalski who missed the win at Sholing through injury is Polish born and after moving to England when he was Five, joined Maidenhead’s academy at an early age and played for the first team. He then went back to his homeland and played professionally. Returning to England in 2021, he was a prolific striker for Marlow and with 15 league goals from 26 games, his threat is an obvious one.
Captaining The Swans is Joey Jones. It was a real coup to capture his signature, when he joined from National League Altrincham. Jones who played in League Two for Salford City has notable experience with Woking, Dagenham & Redbridge, Solihull Moors and Grimsby. At 30 the Defender/ midfielder has plenty to offer. A former Northern Ireland Under 21 player too.
Midfielder Elliott Bolton has been a regular starter in Rowley’s line ups and the classy technical player who began with AFC Wimbledon has also spent time at Weymouth and Basingstoke, where he was last term.
Between the sticks is likely to be Jos Barker. Signed from Knaphill FC, where a number of clubs from further up the Non-League pyramid had been tracking him, after some outstanding performances. A commanded presence, the keeper endeared himself to Swans’ fans by scoring a diving header, when up for a corner in December against Dorchester.
Make no mistake The Yellows’ will have their work cut out to add to their points tally on Saturday, but also know that every point will be crucial, if we are to remain in the Southern League Premier South.
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