Egham Town are now bottom of the Bostik League South Central Division. Bedfont Sports, FC Romania, South Park, Chalfont St Peter and Molesey are similarly pointless, but they have scored goals. Egham fans have not seen an opposition keeper pick the ball out of his net yet. Clearly things need to improve in the scoring department.
There were signs early on that Egham would be competitive. Both squads had seen changes in the close season, including respective leading marksmen. Lewis Toomey filled the gap for the West London side. In the 9th minute a good block by Joe Debayo kept him at bay, and on the break the returning Michael Kalu fired in a shot that flattened defender Roddy Collins. A 13th minute clearance by Enock Soganile kept Egham level, as did an excellent tip over by Xavi Comas off a Scott Donnelly shot. Soganile denied Josh Chamberlain room for a shot but when the opening goal came, on the half hour, it was no real surprise. Toomey was given room to turn, and his low shot found Comas’ bottom left corner. Hesitancy in the home rearguard, mainly stemming from what seemed to be a lack of confidence from and in keeper James Shaw, might have been useful for the visitors, but no Sarnie striker was on hand when Josh Andrew’s well struck free kick became the first Egham shot on target this season. Duncan Culley’s pass and Toomey’s finish from six yards came as a result of the Egham defence being too open, immobile and beaten by good movement off the ball. A minute from the break another Andrew belter was gathered at the second attempt by Shaw.
Toomey scored his hat-trick goal nine minutes into a second half that had started in very low-key fashion. With the points safely banked Hayes might have stood off but Culley wanted a piece of the glory and tried his luck with a shot and then a header that went wide. Rory Merrick, on for Georges Ehui, cleared off the line before, with seven minutes left, off Andrew’s cross, Jermaine Osei, from three yards out and right in front of the target, made a complete hash of heading the ball in. Andrew again fired in a shot that Shaw had to catch and Osei teed up the industrious Tayshan Hayden-Smith for a shot that flew over. Moments later Culley got his goal, a wallop from distance.
Two games, two defeats, no goals and six conceded is not the start anyone wants. The next contest is a trip to Cobham, of the Cherry Red Combined Counties Premier Division. They have one point from four games, Saturday’s 1-1 draw at their Leg Of Mutton ground with Hanworth Villa following three defeat including a 1-4 reverse at Abbey Rangers that Sarnies’ manager Simon Lane skipped Tuesday’s training to watch. They sit in second-from-bottom place. Cobham saved Egham a trip to Sheppey United with their 1-0 home triumph in the Extra Preliminary Round. The winners will pick up an astonishing £2890, the losers £960. It is certainly worth fighting for, and both sides will go into the Cup tie looking to kick start their respective campaigns.
EGHAM TOWN: Xavi Comas, Greg Haydon (Captain), Georges Ehui, Tom Wilson, Joe Debayo, Michael Kalu, Josh Andrew, Tayshan Hayden-Smith, Jermaine Osei, PaoloGiamettei, Enock Sagonile. Subs: Courtney Austin (Osei, 88), Owen Roberts, Isaac Olorunfemi (Kalu, 78), Rory Merrick (Ehui, 58), Jeremiah Debayo.