Match Preview | Walton & Hersham

Walton & Hersham v Tiverton Town 

Saturday 1^st November 3pm Kick off 

The Excel Sports Hub 

The Yellows head to the capital on Saturday where they will face table topping Walton & Hersham, as they pick themselves up from the heartbreaking defeat against Yate and their next test will be their toughest one yet this season. Personnel for this game may change with the possibility of a few players returning, but irrespective of availability Asa Hall and Steve Orchard's men need to get back on the horse and ride into battle once again. 

Last weekend amidst all the disappointment, a debut was handed to Dorchester loanee defender Harry Hutchinson, as the management team look to address a worrying run of results. Dan Koita was able to end his personal goal scoring drought in the Southern League Premier South then and he will be hoping to press on from here. 

Holding onto what we’ve got or getting over the line, have been missing for most of the season so far and the search for those solutions continues. There has been no shortage of effort and good football from the side, but a vulnerability remains. 

The Swans’ whose total football ethos was a pledge from their new young owners who took over the club in 2019, have made a few modifications to that approach, but an emphasis on getting the ball down and playing through the thirds allows them to showcase a very attractive brand of football. 

In 2019 they were languishing in the Combined Counties League, a Western League equivalent before a seven strong consortium oversaw a rise to their current status and promotion to step 2 football is at the moment, albeit with nearly a third of the season complete, high on the Swans agenda. 

Billy Rowley, part of previous manager Scott Harris’ backroom staff, took the reins after the club parted ways with Harris during the 2024 campaign. His employers can only be happy with his appointment. The league leaders are unbeaten since August 12^th, when they suffered their only league loss to Hanwell away from home. 

Walton & Hersham boast a 100% record on their 3G surface in the league and the only other points they dropped were at Dorchester, where they remarkably pulled back three goals, with the Magpies leading 3-0 with seven minutes including added time remaining. 

Striker Dawid Rogalski is an obvious danger man for the hosts. His senior career began at Maidenhead, before he moved to Marlow. An acquisition for the Thames side last term, he has proven to be a big hit with the Swans, as 31 goals in 50 league games demonstrates.  

22-year-old fellow forward Jack Wood, made 45 appearances in the National League for Southend and the talented footballer who is naturally a winger, has found the net six times in the 2025/26 season. Whilst with the Shrimpers, he had loan spells with Tonbridge Angels and Torquay. His first taste of senior football came at Berkhamsted, and he was also at Kings Langley. 

Classy midfielder Anis Nuur has established himself as a regular at the Excel Sports Hub over the past three seasons. Close to 100 games in all competitions the energetic Nuur has also represented Hendon, Hartley Wintney, Hanwell and Met Police. 

Mason Obeng is another mainstay of the side and is ever present this term. He played a handful of games for Aldershot and was with Hartley and Wintney, before signing for Walton & Hersham in the 24/25 campaign. Obeng is another gifted technician. 

Attacking midfielder Johl Powell a product of Charlton Athletics' academy, played three senior games for the Addicks in cup competitions. The 24-year-old is an exciting talent, who played for Maidstone, Dulwich Hamlet, Tonbridge Angels and Dover, before joining the Swans. Powell is a definite goal threat, with 8 goals to his name, this season. 

However, it was the recruitment of Joey Jones last term that was eye- catching. The former Northern Ireland Under 21 International is 31 and was part of Arsenal’s academy between 2007 and 2010 and then Leicester City’s Youth academy until 2013. 

Following his departure from Leicester, Jones signed for Championship side Yeovil. A loan stint at Woking became permanent and the midfielder/defender went on to play 174 National League games for them and then he signed for league rivals Eastleigh. His performances at that level didn’t go unnoticed and a move to the EFL with Salford City happened in 2019/20. 

Before joining Walton & Hersham, aside from 21 EFL appearances for Salford, the inspirational playmaker has only ever played in the non-league’s highest division. Dagenham & Redbridge, Grimsby Town, Solihull Moors and Altrincham also acquired his services, after he left Salford in the 2020/21 season. 

Billy Rowley’s defence is full of young emerging talents, including 21-Year-old left back Stefan Parkes, who was released by Premier League Fulham at the end of last season and Ethan Light who was professionally contracted to Leyton Orient. Also 21 and a centre back. Gaining experience at Winchester last term and with a couple of spells with Hendon, the first on loan from the O’s and another loan with Kings Langley, have readied him for this division. 

Josh Barker who was signed from Combined Counties side Knaphill last term, quickly became the regular owner of the Swans number one shirt and the heavily scouted keeper has earned rave reviews since arriving.  

It is doubtful that there will be a tougher examination this season and Tiverton will definitely have to rise to the occasion to first of all compete and secondly to play to their maximum, if they are to push Walton & Hersham all the way and add to their points total. 

Our backs are against the wall, but if we can put a difficult October behind us and get some points on the board during November, fortunes could quickly turn around. All we ask as fans first and foremost is that the players give their all for the cause and there is plenty of football left to play, to change our current predicament.