EVO-STIK SOUTHERN LEAGUE EAST DIVISION
SATURDAY 13 JANUARY 2018
BEDFORD TOWN 2 (1) EGHAM TOWN 1 (1)
James Peters (26), Jemale Mackenzie-Lowe (85) / Brendan Matthew (63) (pic)

Egham Town’s players travelled to Bedford Town having had less than two days to make the mental readjustment required after the sacking of Chris Moore and the installation of Simon Lane, who, in their previous league match, had been plotting their downfall as boss of Northwood. Changing a team manager so speedily might have led to some grumbling among those selected to represent both clubs, but Northwood beat Arlesey 2-0 and it is to the immense credit of the Egham players that no-one cried off and all were apparently in good spirits prior to this match.
The Sarnies’ record at The Eyrie is poor indeed, last season’s 1-1 draw the best result in living memory for this trip. It could then, perhaps, be seen as a “free go” for the new boss, a chance to run the rule over his new charges. It was down to the players to show their commitment, and they worked hard throughout, but changing the man who selects the team does not necessarily iron out inherent and entrenched problems, such as conceding possession far too readily, especially in midfield. It was this trait that was ultimately to be the visitors’ undoing.
Bedford were on the front foot immediately, but their attacks were repelled, Bradley Woodsgarness firing wide after 15 minutes. However, with 26 minutes gone, conceding a free kick on the right side of the Egham box led to the opener, the free kick being guided in by skipper James Peter’s head and past Aaron Bufton in the Egham goal. Three minutes from the break skipper Louis Stead’s free kick was met by Marcus Mealing’s thumping header, home keeper Kyle Forster leaping to turn the ball over his bar.
Ten minutes into the second period the Eagles’ David Moli let rip from 20 yards but Bufton dealt with the shot comfortably, diving to his left. A minute Bufton had to show his prowess to his other side after Aston Grant was given both the ball, from a sloppy loss of possession, and room to do something with it, another shot from outside the box. Once again Bufton saved the day. Ref Wayne Chalmers failed to see anything wrong with a blatant foul on Mitchell Wiseman as he ventured upfield but then booked Stead for a less obvious transgression. On 63 minutes Egham were level. Matty Woods, giving his usual lively performance up front, zipped down the left flank and delivered a cross to the back post, where Mealing was lurking. He mishit the ball, but fortuitously it ran into the path of Brendan Matthew, who scored his 15th of the season from close range. Egham should have gone on to win from there. At this stage a home victory seemed unlikely, unless the visitors did something daft. Mealing volleyed wide off a Lewis Cole cross and Egham were pushing for the lead but that unfortunate habit of giving the ball to those in different colour shirts bit them on the bum. Five minutes from time conceding possession on the right gave Tommy Hull licence to run forward, and pass the ball into Woodgarness. Faced with a retreating defence he had little option but to shoot, and as Egham failed to clear the ball landed nicely for substitute Jemale Mackenzie-Lowe to score, not with a screamer from distance as reported on the footballwebpages site, but from considerably more proximate to the target. But for Devante McKain heading clear under pressure, under the bar, it could have been worse, which would have been decidedly unfair.
After the game the new boss praised his side’s work rate while acknowledging that there is some work to do.
Egham face Hayes & Yeading United at home for the second Tuesday running as Mr Lane makes his home debut, the Middlesex side having prevailed last week in the League Cup on penalties. There then follow home games against Kempston Rovers (20th Jan) and Chalfont St Peter (23rd).
EGHAM TOWN: Aaron Bufton, Callum Webb, Joel Jacobs, Danny Julienne, Mitchell Wiseman, Devante McKain, Lewis Cole, Louis Stead, Brendan Matthew, Matty Woods, Marcus Mealing. Substitutes: Rhys Paul (Julienne, 81), Jordan Frederick, Ryan Debattista (Mealing, 75), Liam Tack, Aaron Berry.

20.01.18 KEMPSTON ROVERS
23.01.08 CHALFONT ST PETER
27.01.18 Marlow
03.02.18 Hartley Wintney
10.02.18 CAMBRIDGE CITY
17.02.18 Aylesbury United
24.02.18 AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS
03.03.18 Uxbridge
10.03.18 MONEYFIELDS
17.03.18 ARLESEY TOWN
24.03.18 Thame United
31.03.18 Aylesbury
02.04.18 BEACONSFIELD TOWN
07.04.18 AFC DUNSTABLE
14.04.18 Hayes & Yeading United
21.04.18 FLEET TOWN
28.04.18 Chalfont St Peter