EMIRATES FA CUP 2ND QUALIFYING ROUND
SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2018
EGHAM TOWN 3 (1)
Kezie Ibe (24, 60 pen), Enock Soganile (90+3)
BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT 3 (2)
Matt Baxter(6), Jake Gould (15), Josh Gould (50)

This was an Emirates FA Cup tie that will live long in the memory. Two very well matched sides slugged it out to provide thrilling entertainment for a crowd of 148 at Runnymede Stadium. The match was well set up, with Egham, winners against Step 3 local rival Staines Town in the previous round and fighting for a well earnt point against Hertford Town a week later, facing a Brightlingsea Regent (also Step 3, in the Bostik Premier) side who had won 4-3 at Cambridge City in the previous round and whose manager had claimed that his charges play better on the road. Neither side has yet started pulling up trees in their respective divisions, so mistakes were bound to be part of the proceedings, but with both sides aiming to attack whenever possible this was a very interesting spectacle.
Egham had two new men in the line-up, Enfield Town forward Jack Hockney on the bench and Harrow Borough centre half Adam Richards starting alongside skipper Greg Haydon in the middle of the Sarnies’ defence. Also named was Stephan Hamilton-Forbes, who was an Egham man last season before moving to Harrow Borough and played for the London side in a pre-season friendly.
Egham attacked straight from the kick off, skipper Ashley Lodge registering the game’s first shot on target after only 10 seconds. Michael Kalu was not long with the second and with the home side on top it was a shock when Regent took the lead. Harvey Hodd sprinted down the right and delivered a low cross to the back post, where Matt Baxter turned the ball past keeper Xavi Comas. Referee Tom Danaher missed a clear hand ball in the Brightlingsea area by skipper Josh Gould, then Tayshan Hayden-Smith saw his shot belted off the line by George Keys. When Egham went two down, Jake Gould sweeping in a shot that flew in off the inside of Comas’ left post, it would not have been surprising had they let their heads drop. They were, though, playing well enough for one of the visiting supporters to be heard at half time saying “They’re playing us off the park.” By that time Egham had reduced the deficit. Danny Julienne started the move, surging up from the back and finding Hayden-Smith, who passed to Kezie Ibe. The forward had plenty to do, standing as he was with his back to goal, but he spun expertly to fire the ball beyond Regent keeper James Bradbrook’s left hand. Josh Andrew tested Bradbrook from distance and Ibe headed an Andrew cross over.
Then came the big test. What seemed to be, from the Jungle End, a needless concession of a free kick ended up with Josh Gould flicking the ball into the net. Now facing a 1-3 scoreline the question was whether the Sarnies could manage to stay firm defensively while continuing to play the confident and attacking football they had shown thus far. On the hour they had a way back. Jake Gould had had a nibble at Ibe just outside the box and then another go inside it, and Mr Danaher awarded a penalty which Ibe rolled in without fuss. Josh Gould’s well struck free kick forced Comas to punch the ball clear as Regent looked for a decisive fourth, and an even better save, from Keys’ dead ball strike, again kept the Sarnies in the match. A William Hunt header kissed Comas’ right post; Rhys Rabess replaced Danny Julienne for Egham; Bradbrook tested the referee’s patience once too often as he delayed a goal kick and was booked for the time wasting he had started in the first half. There were five minutes of regulation play left, and Egham still looked good for a replay at least. The last thing, then, that they wanted was to lose their skipper but referee Danaher had no doubt that Haydon’s challenge on Harrison Banner merited a second yellow. Unfortunately the Regent man had to leave the pitch on a stretcher. We hope that he makes a speedy and full recovery. The referee indicated six minutes of injury time. Egham still plugged away and, finally, got the replay that was their minimum due for an enterprising performance. Ashley Lodge, ever industrious in the Sarnie engine room, supported Rabess down the left and won a corner kick which he took. The ball was aimed at the near post, where Enock Sagonile stooped to guide the ball into the Brightlingsea net. Cue Sarnie mayhem down the Jungle End and planning for the 210 mile round trip to the Essex side’s North Road ground on Tuesday.
EGHAM TOWN: Xavi Comas, Josh Andrew, Enock Sagonile, Danny Julienne, Greg Haydon (Captain), Adam Richards, Sean McCormack, Tayshan Hayden-Smith, Kezie Ibe, Ashley Lodge, Michael Kalu. Substitutes: Georges Ehui, Lewis Hobbs ((McCormack, 85), Stephan Hamilton-Forbes, Rhys Rabess (Julienne, 31), Jack Hockney (Kalu, 66), Kevan Patel (kpr).