Swans make bright start

Aug 20 2008 Surrey Herald

RYMAN ONE SOUTH Walton & Hersham........................ 2 Crowborough................................ 1

It may not have been very pretty, but for new Walton manager Jimmy Bolton the only thing that really mattered was W for WIN on the opening day of the season.

"I was really pleased with the effort and endeavour and especially the standard of our defending,," said Bolton (pictured right).

"But it is equally clear that it will take time before we see the best of these lads. I felt we made it slightly harder than we needed to today. We could have been three or four up before they scored.

"The first game of the season is always the most difficult because you are so keen to get off on the right foot. I think we played at 65 per cent today and we have a lot more in the tank. I certainly know that they are all genuine honest lads and they will work their socks off to take this club where it needs to be."

Bolton was equally happy with the last-minute signing of striker Adrian Stone, from Bromley. "He is a muscular guy with loads of talent," said Bolton. "He has clever feet and he scores goals. He is not afraid to put in the effort and he also adds vital experience. I have been

after him since I took the job over. We could not sort things out at first, but to be able to bring him in at the 11th hour is a big boost for us."

It was certainly a day for fresh beginnings at Stompond Lane, with the home faithful spending much of the afternoon acquainting themselves with an almost completely changed team.

Bolton fielded just four players from last season's squad and not surprisingly they took a while to gel. and at times looked a little tentative.

Their nerves were settled in the 32nd

minute, when Adam Moriarty's free kick was headed down by player-coach Matt Elverson and swept home by impressive young left back Scott Hassell, who justifiably went on to earn the man-of-the match award.

A strong, hard-working, if limited Crowborough outfit were very unlucky not to equalise right on half time, however, when only frantic goal-line defending kept out point-blank efforts from Luke Gedling and Andrew Ducille.

But any fears of a Crowborough comeback were calmed four minutes after the interval when experienced skipper Barry Moore fired home after Crowborough keeper Mark Oldroyd had fisted out a dangerous cross and Adam Moriarty hooked the ball back in the goalmouth.

It could easily have been three, as Craig Dunne split the defence to put Phil Cramp through, only for the on-rushing Oldroyd to save with his legs.

Bolton brought on Stuart Booth and late signing Adrian Stone for Tommo Carter and Zak Graham as Swans looked to finish their rivals off, and it took a brave save to deny a second goal for Hassell as Moriarty curled in a wicked free kick.

The game was deep into stoppage time when Keiran Wilson caught the Swans defence napping to beat Richard Stroud with an angled drive.