By Mervyn Rees

Michael Blount’s remarkable goal four minutes from time looked to have given Walton & Hersham an opening day win in Ryman Division One South at Peacehaven & Telscombe.

However, a last minute equaliser from the league's new boys meant Steve Baker’s first match in charge of the Swans ended in a 2-2 stalemate.

Peacehaven had the ball in the net after six minutes but it was disallowed for a foul on goalkeeper Tim Roberts.

The hosts took the lead on 35 minutes when John Clark conceded a free-kick close to the right corner flag, and Josh Jones drove the ball in to the near-post for Joe Dryer to tough it past Roberts.

In the last minute of the half, Roberts did well to take a ball driven in to his near-post from the right, and Swans immediately got forward to score the equaliser.

Andre Scarlett latched onto the ball as it broke through to him off a home defender, and he neatly lobbed it over Di Bernardo from the edge of the box and into the net.

Swans had a great chance to take the lead just before the hour when James McShane played Will Turl in, but he put his shot over.

With just over five minutes remaining, Peavehaven went close when Jamie Brotherton put in a good strike from the edge of the box that clipped the top of the crossbar.

But it was Swans who were to go ahead with a sensational goal - Blount was just inside the home half on the right when he spotted Di Bernardo was off his goal-line, and he sent the ball dipping over the head of the keeper and into the net.

The lead only lasted three minutes however, as slack defending allowed Peacehaven to mount an attack down the left, and when the ball was laid inside to Walker he slipped it past Roberts.