BOSTIK SOUTHERN CENTRAL
SATURDAY 11 AUGUST 2018
EGHAM TOWN 0 HANWELL TOWN 2
Ibrahim Olutade (57'), Calum Duffy (67')
Ent: 3/5
MOM Taysham Hayden-Smith (Egham Town)

Egham Town’s bow in the Bostik South Central would not linger in the memory were it not the match that brought last season’s management duo back to the Runnymede Stadium. Chris Moore and Wayne Carter were deemed surplus to requirements 36 games into their tenure, with Simon Lane taking over after leaving Northwood. Moore made clear on Twitter his enjoyment at Lane’s travails in the aftermath but Egham still finished ahead of the West London side in the Southern League Central Division final table. In the close season both teams had major changes of personnel, for Egham the major one being the inevitable recruitment of top scorer Brendan Matthew by Beaconsfield Town, now of the Southern Premier. (“Matthew Brendan” made his debut in the 2-2 home draw with Salisbury Town.) Before this match I had a chat with a committee member from The Geordies, and his biggest fear was “I don’t know where the goals will come from”. Without Matthew, who averaged just under 19 goals in his six seasons with The Sarnies, the same question arises. It wasn’t answered here. Egham did not manage a shot on target all game. Even had they, facing them was Aaron Bufton who impressed for them last season. He would have been as delighted as Moore and Carter at the clean sheet.
Egham Town boss Simon Lane has assembled a squad with experience (Josh Andrew, Rhys Paul, Xavi Costa, Danny Julienne, Greg Haydon as examples) and a selection towards the “callow youth” end of their footballing careers. A decent pre-season with decent results against decent teams gives hope that this unfortunate loss can be built upon, and who knows how it would have turned out had they not lost former Molesey man Joe Pratley-Jones after 35 minutes for a second booking. It could not have been more badly timed because it took the wind out of the Sarnies’ sails after an encouraging start. There was little difference between the teams, both playing some attractive football, the home side building well with Jermaine Osei and Courtney Austin keeping the away defence busy. Tayshan Hayden-Smith impressed in pre-season and took that form into the first competitive game of the season, deservedly being named as Man of the Match. The problem was that Bufton was not really being brought into action. His opposite number, Comas, made a fine stop from Louis Bircham’s free kick but actual chances were scarce.
The second half started with Egham’s Paolo Giamettei replaced by Joe Debayo. The visitors took the lead after 57 minutes with a powerful cross shot by Ibrahim Olutade and doubled it when Callum Duffy shot at Comas, whose good save was wiped out when Duffy knocked home the rebound. Hanwell whooped and hollered their way into the dressing room. One down, 37 to go.
Next Saturday Egham travel to Hayes & Yeading United, who were 1-3 down to Cheshunt before sharing six goals. In two weeks Egham face a short hop to Cobham in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup after the Surrey side defeated Sheppey United in the Extra Preliminary Round. That is followed by an August Bank Holiday encounter with Westfield.
EGHAM TOWN: 1. Xavi Comas 2. Enock Soganile 3. Georges Ehui 4. Tom Windsor 5. Greg Haydon (Captain) 6. Paolo Giamettei 7. Josh Andrew 8. Joe Pratley-Jones 9. Jermaine Osei 10. Tayshan Hayden-Smith 11. Courtney Austin. Substitutes: 12. Meshach Williams (Osei, 70) 14. Joseph Debayo (Giamettei, HT) 15. Rhys Rabess 16. Rory Merrick 17. Isaac Olorunfemi (Andrew, 81).