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EGHAM TOWN 4 FLACKWELL HEATH 1

EGHAM TOWN 4 FLACKWELL HEATH 1

Tempest Ward14 Aug 2022 - 10:26
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Sarnies' stylish display for season opener

CHERRY RED RECORDS COMBINED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION NORTH
SATURDAY 13 AUGUST 2022
EGHAM TOWN 4 (2)
JAMES RICHARDSON 2 (10, 17), SAMAD KAZI 62, pen), JABIR LARABA (80)
FLACKWELL HEATH 1 (0)
CALLUM BUNTING (83, pen)

Egham Town made a superb start to season 2022-22023 in the CCL Premier North with a thumping victory over one of the promotion favourites. Jordan Berry, Dave Rogers and Greg Phillips shuffled their troops after the replay loss against Deal Town in the FA Cup, the flexibility of the squad being an important factor in the success of last season.
Time to own up; this scribbler was not expecting this performance, and I know I was not alone. We should have had more faith. Flackwell Heath had their first win under their belts in the FA Cup, and had signed Beaconsfield Town’s midfield kingpin Charlie Losasso, but he wasn’t even in the squad. Ten minutes into the first League game of the season and Egham were a goal up. Egham pressed the Heathens back, Jabir Laraba tricked his way past two defenders on the by-line, looked up, saw James Richardson unmarked at the back post and drilled in a low cross for Richardson’s straightforward finish. It should have been two just three minutes later as Excellence Muhemba took the ball on down the middle, one on one with keeper Isaac Hay but rolled the ball wide from the sort of opening that should be meat and drink to a striker. However, only another four minutes later, Egham did double their lead. More home pressing forced the visitors to back pedal, Laraba laid the ball off for left back Ryan Phillips and he curled in a delicious, first-time ball into the box. The defence failed to deal with it, Robinson taking advantage with a lovely touch and turn that gave him space to roll the ball beyond Hay. Robinson came close to a hat-trick in the 18th minute when Phillips’ corner was met by Sarnies’ skipper Reece Yorke but the former Ascot United winger was just not tall enough to guide his header in under pressure from James Mansfield. Robinson then picked up a yellow card for tackling in midfield, referee Fabian Le Houezec considering his efforts to be too enthusiastic. The referee also cautioned Haluma Masembe (not sure why) while failing to do anything at all about Colin Mugoya-Tabingwa pushing Egham players while the man in black was doing his card waving thing. Flackwell Heath had not done a lot to threaten Lewis Gallifent in the Egham goal, but in the 38th minute played their way out from a home corner to create a good passing move that ended with Marcus Ushiro-Lumb missing a good chance from close range. Gallifent, tidying up a long ball forward, got clattered by Jamie Ayres but recovered. As half-time approached Mugoya-Tabingwa hooked the ball over his shoulder for Fabian Drifill, who lifted the ball into the Jungle End.
With the enervating heat it would have been no surprise had the second half taken on the air of a practice match but the pace was maintained. An early substitution of Richardson for Adam Humphries was a surprise but perhaps influenced by his earlier yellow card. The Sarnies were still controlling the game, Alan Ackerman’s header an easy catch for Gallifent. In the 62nd minute Egham were awarded a penalty after a foul on Laraba. He wanted to take the kick, probably to erase the memory of Tuesday’s miss, but gave way to the serenity and seniority of Samad Kazi, who had scored from the spot in pre-season at Amersham Town. The kick looked a tad scuffed; who cares? 3-0 might have been 3-1 but for Masembe’s brilliant tackle on Callum Bunting. Instead, it was turned into 4-0. Laraba took down Gallifent’s long pass, cut in, tried to find Luke Maguire, the ball bounced back to him off a defender and he hammered the ball home from the edge of the box. In the programme I mentioned how long ago it had been since we played The Heathens in a league match (2005-6). I missed out the bit about them doing the double over us. Flackwell Heath were able to pull a goal back after Bunting comfortably converted a penalty given for Stefan Powell’s trip on Duarte Suparnu.

Egham seem not to have a game next Saturday as league rivals compete in the FA Cup, but they do have a game on Wednesday at Burnham. On 23 August they entertain Ascot United, whose 5-1 at Windsor saw former Egham striker Brendan Matthew netting a hat-trick. His third goal is why Egham are second (alphabetically ahead of Hilltop, promoted after Staines Town went bust, and 4-1 winners over Burnham), not equal first in the embryonic league table. The next away game is on 27 August at Wallingford & Crowmarsh.

EGHAM TOWN: Lewis Gallifent, Samad Kazi, Ryan Phillips, Stefan Powell, Reece Yorke (Captain), Haluma Masembe, Eric Lopes, Jordan Goode-Keeley, Excellence Muhemba, Jabir Laraba, James Robinson. Substitutes: Ezekiel Williams (Lopes, 56), Luke Maguire (Muhemba, 78), Adam Humphries (Robinson, 46), Ashley Harrack (Masembe, 82), Tristan Vernal-Francois (Laraba, 82).

Mark

BURNHAM FC: Wymers Wood Road, SL1 8JG

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