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BEACONSFIELD TOWN 3 EGHAM TOWN 1

BEACONSFIELD TOWN 3 EGHAM TOWN 1

Tempest Ward31 Dec 2017 - 00:41
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Matthew worldy wiped out by determined Rams

EVO-STIK SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE EAST
SATURDAY 30 DECEMBER 2017
BEACONSFIELD TOWN 3 (2) EGHAM TOWN 1 (1)
Scorers: Alexander Cathline (13), Goldy Capella 2 (37, 65)

Has there been a match in recent Egham Town history with so much baggage attached? Beaconsfield Town, sitting in fifth place, and managed by former Sarnie boss Gary Meakin, have in their line-up almost all of their opponents’ squad from last season, begging the question why Mr Meakin did not stick to his end of season promise to stay. The situation was given more heat with a seven day letter for, and subsequent midweek signing of, Egham skipper Reece Yorke, who went straight into the Rams’ line-up alongside last term’s defensive partner Luke Neville. Yorke’s defection meant having to fill his centre back position (Mitchell Wiseman, back from a skiing holiday mercifully unscathed) and the captain’s armband (awarded to Louis Stead).
Egham approached this last game of 2017 with three wins behind them, all against sides down the wrong end of the table. Beaconsfield were 0-4 down in midweek at Chalfont St Peter before clawing two back, and they settled earlier into the match, taking the lead after 13 minutes when a corner hit Aaron Bufton’s bar and the ball was turned in by Alexander Cathline. Egham replied with a shot from distance by Callum Webb and, ten minutes from the break, an absolute beauty from top scorer Brendan Matthew, running on to a loose ball in the home midfield before arcing a superb shot over home keeper Ravan Constable. Unfortunately parity lasted only a couple of minutes. Bajram Pashaj, one of seven ex-Sarnies in the Rams’ starting line-up, was given room to run at a retreating back line and his cross was diverted into the path of Goldy Capella, who converted. Home skipper Wes Daly picked up only a yellow for what looked like a two-footed challenge on Jordan Frederick, then Egham man Rhys Paul joined Daly in the book for fouling Neville.
Early in the second period Wiseman came close to a second equaliser, narrowly failing to convert when a Louis Cole corner reached the back post. Matthew was brought down in the box by Jerome Ecclestone; referee Daniel Simpson did not see it as an offence. Beaconsfield took a firmer grasp of the game with their third, Capela tapping in again, this time after Bufton had done well to divert a shot. Egham were not creating much but when openings were found Webb underpowered his shot and Frederick drove the ball straight at Constable, who had to tip a late header by Devante McKain over the bar. Had the referee not chosen to ignore a blatant handball by Jordan Ajanlekoko things may have turned out differently. Once the smoke had cleared it had to be admitted that, by dint of converting their chances, the home side deserved the win.
Egham, after slipping back down to 12th, take on Northwood at home on 6 January at the Runnymede Stadium before facing Hayes & Yeading United at home on consecutive Tuesdays (bigfreebet.com Round 3, then in the league) either side of a trip to Bedford Town.
EGHAM TOWN: Aaron Bufton, Alex Nolan, Lewis Cole, Rhys Paul, Mitchell Wiseman, Devante McKain, Jordan Frederick, Louis Stead (Captain), Brendan Matthew, Matty Woods, Callum Webb. Substitutes: Wayne Carter (Paul, 62), Aaron Berry (Woods, 84), Liam Tack, Danny Julienne, Ryan Debattista (Frederick, 84).

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