Pitching In Southern League, Premier Division South
Tiverton Town v Walton & Hersham
Saturday, November 30 . Ian Moorcroft Stadium . 3pm
LAST Saturday was an eventful one for Tiverton and this Saturday's opponents, Walton & Hersham.
Whilst a much improved Yellows’ were enjoying putting a much needed three points on the board at Basingstoke, it appeared at half-time that Walton & Hersham were heading for a comfortable win when leading high flyers Gloucester City 4-0. Come full-time, however, they had to make do with a 4-4 draw.
Storm Bert being at the centre of proceedings, games of two halves were the order of the day. That made Tiverton’s away success all the more impressive as they won both halves in Hampshire, with the advantage and being disadvantaged.
Kai Churchley put the seal on Tivvy’s victory, scoring our third in second-half added time as Rob Dray had his first league success with his new side. Promising player relationships are being forged and it appears that, with Nat Jarvis up top alongside Joe Parker, we have a focal point to support our top goalscorer.
It is not the first time these two have partnered each other, their paths having crossed at Gloucester City years before. Jarvis and new signing Marcus Day are both set to feature on Saturday and, of course, will be making their home debuts.
Walton & Hersham, who are known as the Swans, are also widely regarded as one of the best footballing sides in Southern League Premier South. When in full flow, their total football can be a joy to watch for the neutral. Fourth-placed and play-off contenders, the Surrey side appear, on paper, to be a tough nut to crack. Only Merthyr and Chertsey have scored more goals than them this term.
Boss Billy Rowley took over in April and was a senior member of then departing manager Scott Harris’s backroom team. Any team with the likes of Nana Owusu and Jordan Esprit in it will present a formidable threat at this level.
Attacking midfielder or forward Owusu is a hugely gifted player who also knows where the net is. A regular in Rowley’s side, he has plenty of experience higher up the pyramid with Maidenhead, Oxford City and Dulwich Hamlet.
Another notable performer in this division is Jordan Esprit. He had an excellent goalscoring record with Bracknell and played and scored against us earlier in the season. His 34 goals from 65 games in this division underline the striker's credentials. Fellow front man Dawid Rogalski, with nine goals from 15, games will also need to be supervised.
Vastly experienced defensive midfielder Joey Jones, who has played for most of his career in the National League and also had a spell in the EFL with Salford City, combines his playing role with coaching the Swans.
The summer signing was playing for Altrincham last season and this high calibre player includes Dagenham & Redbridge, Woking, Grimsby Town and Solihull Moors, Yeovil and Eastleigh on his cv. His formative years were spent at Arsenal and Leicester in their Academies. Still only 30, I am sure he is a valuable asset for the club.
Between the sticks is likely to be Jos Barker, a much sought after teenage goalkeeper who starred for Combined Counties outfit Knaphill. He seems to have established himself as Walton & Hersham’s number one.
In front of him is Paul Field, a defender previously with Hayes &Yeading, where he became a permanent fixture, making more than 60 appearances across the previous two campaigns. Field began his football journey in Stevenage Borough’s youth set-up and the 24-year-old has become an important player for the Swans this term.
The Yellows know this will be a tough fixture and will have to do without Niall Thompson, who is suspended for a game. Midfielder Jeff Forkuo has picked up a facial injury and will be a doubt.
Rob Dray’s side’s character-building victory at Basingstoke will have given them renewed optimism, but with defenders Josh Jones and Mike Baker almost certain to be absent, Tivvy’s squad remains depleted.
One thing is certain - the fans will be completely behind the team come 3pm and hoping very much for a positive outcome.
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