Egham Town 2 Merstham 3

FA CUP with BUDWEISER
PRELIMINARY ROUND REPLAY
TUESDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2011
EGHAM TOWN 2 (0) v MERSTHAM 3 (0)
Egham Town scorers: Marcus Moody (47) Aarron Taylor-Ives (84)

FA CUP with BUDWEISER
PRELIMINARY ROUND REPLAY
TUESDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2011
EGHAM TOWN 2 (0) v MERSTHAM 3 (0)
Egham Town scorers: Marcus Moody (47) Aarron Taylor-Ives (84)

An F.A.Cup replay, that “getting them back to our place so we can finish the job” fixture that quite often provides shocks of epic proportions, hasn't had a habit of working for Egham Town. Manager John Hamsher was without centre back Ken During (work commitments) for this replay against Merstham, so Paul Bartholomew came in and did a splendid job as his replacement. In fact, against visitors who were playing better, I think, than they had at their own ground on Saturday, Egham matched them in a thrilling first half that saw few chances but lots of a ttacking from both teams; it has to be admitted that Merstham's attacks carried more potential for damage. Roscoe D'Sane started for Merstham this time and forced the half's best save from Paul Borg with a hook shot. Borg was brilliant again, and denied the Moatsiders' forwards time and again, denying Daniel Harding on 16 minutes, covering a low D'Sane cross four minutes later, Harding again midway in the half and generally inspiring his team mates to have the confidence to attack. That that was limited to a header over the bar by Aarron Taylor-Ives from a Dale Marvell corner and a curling free kick by Marvell was more down to Merstham defending well than any fault of the Egham side.
Early in the second half Borg pulled of a splendid save from Daniel Harding, but as the Egham defence momentarily froze when the ball was not cleared Harding poked the ball in for 0-1. Directly from kick off the ball was played to Marcus Moody and the Egham skipper took the ball on a mazy run that gave him room for a fantastic low finish past Joe Gant in the Merstham goal. Brendan Matthew ended a solo run with a cross shot that just missed its mark and from a Moody won corner Jamie Houghton saw his shot held.
Unfortunately Taylor-Ives conceded a penalty and got a caution on 70 minutes and D'Sane converted the spot kick. A low cross by Harry Ottaway took a cruel deflection off Jake Galbraith for 1-3, five minutes later, meaning we had given Merstham a goal in each of the two games. Ross White, who had put in a splendid shift up front with Marvell, went off for well deserved rest; Matt Grave replaced him. It went a bit flat for a while, which was not surprising, but we rallied and Scott Todd caused some problems when he came on for the increasingly confident Brendan Matthew, who put in a magnificent performance. We cut the deficit when Taylor-Ives headed in a Marvell free kick with 84 minutes gone, but Merstham were able to hold on for a win that sees them play Walton & Hersham in the next round. Good luck to them.

EGHAM TOWN: Paul Borg, Dan Hartlebury, Jake Galbraith, Paul Bartholomew, Aarron Taylor-Ives, Luke Muldowney, Jamie Houghton, Marcus Moody, Dale Marvell, Ross White, Brendan Matthew. Subs: Jake Joslin, Wayne Noad, Scott Todd (Matthew, 79), Matt Grave (White, 73), Josh Henry.

Mark