Good workout at Oak Farm

Egham Town took their pre-season training to the next level with a win over the decent Cove side that drew 1-1 late last season with the Sarnies on their title winning run. Hard training sessions will certainly benefit the team this season as Egham Town seek to establish themselves at Step 4 in the Calor League Division One Central. Match play will of course be the chief part of pre-season preparations, and this was a good choice. After a 4-0 win over Staines Lammas this success saw the home side take the lead midway through the first half, Danny Duffelen taking advantage of a defensive slip. That marked the end of a period in which Cove had looked the better side but then Jacob Lambe started to test the home defence and forced a decent save from the keeper after one enterprising slalom past three opponents. In the second half Egham were more dynamic and able to keep the pressure on. Eventually, with 78 minutes gone, Reis Stanislaus, who had been testing Cove’s rearguard with several direct runs, was fouled on the edge of the box. Luke Craig swung his free kick over the box and found the head of the unmarked James King, who headed in from close range. Ten minutes later Patrick Craig played a perfect pass for Stansislaus on the right side of the Cove area. The striker, in switching the ball from his right foot to his left, created space for a low drive that gave his side the win.
The squad for the start of the season has seen remarkably little change from last. Paul Borg cited travel difficulties for not being able to stay with Egham this season, so he has gone to Windsor. Midfielder Tom Hedges was ill for this match, defender Jim Ward was working and skipper Arran Taylor-Ives is away and may be in need of surgery on his groin. Gary Ross has replaced Borg, and James King and former Walton & Hersham man Steward Luwawa gave good second half performances. Jesse Atiase also returned, having made a spectacular start to last season before suffering a horrible injury at Guernsey.
On Tuesday Egham have a local derby friendly at Spelthorne Sports. Oddly the only other time Egham have played at Sports was in the pre-season build up to their only other season in the Southern League, 2004-5. Egham won 8-1. That is unlikely this time round. Egham play at Fleet Spurs on Saturday.
Squad: Gary Ross, Josh Andrew, Jake Galbraith, Junior Walters, Alex Rodrigues, Joel Jacobs, Luke Muldowney, Patrick Craig, Luke Craig, Jesse Atiase, Jamie Read, Reis Stanislaus, Jacob Lambe, Brendan Matthew, Stuart Luwawa, James King, Louis Chandle-Joseph.

Mark