EVO-STIK SOUTHERN LEAGUE, EAST DIVISION
ARLESEY TOWN 2 (1) H Musay 12', N Fowler 82'
EGHAM TOWN 3 (1) M Mealing 26', M Mealing 64', M Wiseman 77'
MOM MARCUS MEALING (pic)

Newly signed striker Marcus Mealing was the star of the show as Egham made heavy work of beating bottom placed Arlesey Town at New Lamb Meadow. Given the comparative form of the two clubs (Egham 4 points from the last 24, Arlesey 1), there was clearly hope in home ranks that they might just get something from this match. The Sarnies, having clawed a point from their home game with Ashford Town (Mx.) travelled with two players signed midweek, Mealing (at least 7 goals with Marlow this season, though he did not play in the 2-2 draw) and Brandon Blake. Mealing has over 200 appearances for Marlow since 2009 apart from a spell in 2014 when he was at Holmer Green and Thame United and, more recently, it looks as if he turned out for Chertsey Town. Of Brandon Blake your reporter knows nothing. The only remotely sporting reference that I can find on the web is to a young bodybuilder in the USA.
Mealing took no time to settle in, being fouled after only three minutes then taking the free kick from which strong calls for handball in the area were dismissed by the referee. However, Arlesey are not particularly keen on finishing bottom, and Tony Williams forced Sarnies’ keeper Aaron Bufton to save with his feet. From the corner Egham’s defensive frailties were exposed and home skipper Joe Steele headed in. Arlesey were putting together some decent moves and kept Egham at bay for a while. The equaliser arose from good work by Callum Webb, whose run from midfield won the corner from he was able to find the unmarked Mealing at the back post. The new boy made his downward header look easier than it probably was. Play was fairly balanced then, three minutes from the break, Arlesey’s Henry Musay pushed Brendan Matthew over in the box. Matthew’s record from the spot this season was five from five. It is now five from six; the kick lacked conviction and Lewis Elsom saved reasonably comfortably. Going in 2-1 would almost certainly have given a lift to the visitors for the second half. Instead it took until the 63rd minute for Egham to click. Wayne Carter, on for Danny Julienne, played in a free kick that skipper Reece Yorke headed goalwards. Matthew netted; wrongly, the assistant referee had his flag up for offside against Yorke. Egham used their frustration fruitfully, Matthew belting down the right before delivering an excellent cross. Mealing steadied, trapped and delivered forcefully in one fluid move. Arlesey then went down the other end and forced Bufton into another fine save. The small crowd of 57 was grateful for the sudden flurry of meaningful activity on a bitterly cold afternoon. The excitement continued as Egham went 3-1 up, Mitchell Wiseman sidefooting home from close range off a Webb corner. Liam Tack replaced Matthew with the game looking secure. It wasn’t. Seven minutes from time a long ball down the middle found Nathaniel Fowler in the vast expanse where the defence should have been, and the young substitute was not much troubled in his one on one with Bufton. It could have been 4-2 but Tack mistimed his header from Lewis Cole’s deep cross.
Egham entertain Hayes & Yeading United on Tuesday. They have followed three league wins with three defeats and are currently 9th, four higher than Chris Moore’s men. The Egham boss will be sitting out the second game of a two match bench ban after being “sent off” against Ashford Town (Mx.), not the game last Tuesday but the one on August Bank Holiday Monday! On Saturday Egham will be at home to a Hanwell Town side they have beaten twice at their own ground already, 1-0 in the league and 5-3 in the bigfreebet.com Challenge Cup.
EGHAM TOWN: Aaron Bufton, Alex Nolan, Lewis Cole, Reece Yorke (Skipper), Mitchell Wiseman, Devante McKain, Danny Julienne, Jordon Fredericks, Marcus Mealing, Brendan Matthew, Callum Webb. Substitutes: Wayne Carter (Julienne, 57), Liam Tack, Ryan Debattista, Josh Baines, Patrick Ohman (kpr).