Match Preview
Walton & Hersham v Yate Town
Southern League Premier Division South
Saturday 28th February – kick-off 3.00pm
Yate Town travel to south London on Saturday to take on league leaders, Walton & Hersham, who are currently 9 points clear of second and third placed Gloucester City and Poole Town, and with a game in hand.
Form Guide
After finishing in 3rd position last season, in the Southern League Premier Division South, losing out to Gloucester City in the play-offs, Walton & Hersham sit proudly at the top of the table, in this their third season at this level, and despite a change of manager since the two teams met in October, they have only lost 4 league games, but three of them are this year, at Weymouth (1-3), at home to Poole Town on 24 January (1-2) and then at Hungerford on 14th February (0-1). Their only other league defeat of the season was at Hanwell (0-1) in the second game of the season back in August.
The Swans had an excellent run in the FA Trophy beating National League sides Sutton United (4-1), Brackley (1-0), both at home before going out in the Fifth Round on 31st January, at home to another National League side, Woking (1-2).
February has included the league defeat at Hungerford, a 1-1 home draw with Bracknell and a 4-0 win at Plymouth Parkway plus a resounding 5-2 home win against Basingstoke Town last Saturday, with Johl Powell scoring twice.
Games in January, which included FA Trophy games, saw league wins at home win against Gosport and Gloucester, both 2-0, but the league defeats against both Poole and Weymouth. The Swans have played 30 league games, winning 22, drawing 4 and losing just 4 and in the process scoring 73 goals (the most in the division), conceding just 27 times (the best in the division) and accumulating 70 points.
Previous meetings
Yate Town played Walton & Hersham for the first time when the clubs met at the South West Interiors Stadium, back in October. In a highly entertaining game, the Swans scored second half goals through Jack Wood and Mason Obeng before a Marlon Jackson penalty set up a grandstand finished, but the Swans held on to gain all three points.
Marlon Jackson scoring from the penalty spot
Getting there
Ground address: Elmbridge Xcel Sports Hub, Waterside Drive, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey - KT12 2JP
Car Parking: Parking is available on site.
Journey time: The 111-mile journey from Yate should take just over 2 hours via the M4 and the M25
Other information
For supporters in search of something to do ahead of the game, The Weir Hotel is a welcoming place to have a pre-match drink or food. A strong community partner of the club and just a short walk from our ground, it can be found at The Weir Hotel Towpath, Waterside Drive, Walton-on-Thames, KT12 2JB.
Tickets can be obtained via their club website. Admission prices are £14.00 for adults (22-64), £10.00 for senior citizens (65+) & concessions, £7.00 for next generation (13-21), and £2.00 for children (12 and under). Payment can be made by cash or card by entry through the relevant turnstiles. It will also be possible to purchase tickets in advance through their pre-booking facility.
There is a 3G pitch at Walton & Hersham.
Next up
The Bluebells travel to Farnham Town (7.45pm) on Tuesday evening before Wimborne Town (3pm) are the visitors to the South West Interiors Stadium on Saturday 7th March.