Beaconsfield SYCOB 1 Egham Town 2

SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CENTRAL
Monday 18 August 2014
Beaconsfield SYCOB 1 (1) Egham Town 2 (0)
Scorers: Beaconsfield SYCOB - Lee Thompson (43) : Egham Town – Mo Harkin (53), Reis Stanislaus (55)

A controversial end to a fiercely contested game did not overshadow Egham’s best performance so far this season, but it may have ramifications later.
Egham showed they were able to bounce back from two losses in two games, the first a disappointing reverse at Aylesbury United and the second Saturday’s home defeat to a Kettering Town side already looking like a side geared up for promotion. With Richie Byrne crocked and Josh Andrew and Charlie Muldowney unavailable for the game Ricky Farnden came into defence, and Mo Harkin into midfield. Dan Read partnered Reis Stanislaus up front. Within four minutes from the kick off Reis Stanislaus tested home keeper Samuel Bunting with a hammered shot off Calvin Thomas’ pass. For the most part the Sarnies had control of the game but towards the end that hold on the game was being loosened and Egham were conceding a string of unnecessary fouls. Pressure began to come from the home forwards and ten minutes before the break Calvin Thomas did well to prevent Ashley Kelynack from getting a shot away. Just when it looked as if Egham were going to get to half-time with a 0-0 scoreline for the first time this season a low cross was turned in by Lee Thompson and The Rams were 1-0 up.
A markedly more determined Egham Town side had clearly decided to have a go. They upped the pace and got their passing game together and looked far more like a Southern League standard side. That endeavour got its reward when the experienced Harkin lashed a 35 yard free kick into the top right corner, the award coming after a foul on Thomas. Two minutes later it was 2-1 to the Sarnies. Scott Weight had seen a shot blocked from the kick off and Egham maintained the pressure. Harkin found Thomas on the right, the ball was delivered across the box, bobbled over the foot of the expectant Read and reached Stanislaus, unmarked at the back post and for a striker of his quality the finish was simple. Having taken the lead Egham looked to extend it and came close on 63 minutes when Read and Stanislaus linked, the ball was played to Weight who nodded it to Harkin, but the shot rose above the bar. Read had a shot deflected wide and Thomas tried a 20 yarder that was flicked wide by a defender; from the corner Harkin nearly curled the ball into the far corner of Bunting’s net. The Sarnies’ defence held firm when Beaconsfield broke and Garry Aulsberry was largely untroubled. There was a ruckus when a bad challenge on Matt Grave, on for Read, riled the green shirted Egham team, and controversy when the assistant referee was clearly heard swearing at the substituted Read, after a slight disagreement over where the Egham player should be warming down. That was not, though, the controversy mentioned at the top of this report. The incident was simple enough; ball kicked long from the Egham defence, centre forward Stanislaus rises for the ball but is fouled as he does so. Had referee Ian Corner whistled for and awarded a perfectly straightforward free kick for Egham then Stanislaus would not have felt aggrieved. Similarly had the referee been supported by his assistant then perhaps there would have been nothing to write about. Unfortunately Stanislaus reacted, verbally, and was shown a straight red card. The situation would not have happened had the correct decision been made. However, there is that football law that legislates against players swearing at referees; there does not seem to be the same law for assistant referees who swear at players.
Beaconsfield and Egham were playing in this fourth set of Southern League Division One Central fixtures a day before everyone else but the rise to 9th from 16th is nice while it lasts. Next Saturday Egham Town travel to Potters Bar Town.

Mark