KETTERING TOWN 5 EGHAM TOWN 0

EVO-STIK SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CENTRAL
TUESDAY 10 MARCH 2015
KETTERING TOWN 5 (5) EGHAM TOWN 0 (0)
Scorers: Elliott Sandy (2, pen), Brett Solkhon (10), David Kolodynski (15),
Andy Hall 2 (35, 42)

All credit is due to the Egham Town players for a spirited second half display against champions-elect Kettering Town after the Northamptonshire side had ripped them apart with a devastating first half performance. Egham had taken to the field with a debutant goalkeeper, Jamie Cunningham, replacing Jamie Norris, the usual incumbent having dislocated his left thumb in the defeat at Royston Town on Saturday, and the hoary old cliché “baptism of fire” certainly applied here. The Poppies took a 3-0 lead after 15 minutes, the average of one every five minutes raising the possibility of a 0-18 loss! As it was, even staying away from the club’s record 0-10 loss, against Fisher Athletic in Egham’s first season after their reformation, 1963-1964, in the Parthenon League, looked like a decent objective. When the referee awarded a penalty for a loose hand in the box after two minutes, and Elliott Sandy’s stuttered run-up preceded a successful spot kick, it looked grim for the lime-shirted visitors. That kit was debuted last season at the same ground, which Egham lost by a single goal. There was little chance of that as Kettering looked to use their game in hand to extend their lead to 12 points, and they doubled the lead. David Kolodynski had a shot blocked for a corner, which James Jenson, the one the locals call “Jesus”, whipped in a corner, met with a free header by Brett Solkhon. Egham had their first foray forward, and Jordan Carter tried a 25 yarder which swung wide of the right post. Almost immediately Kettering split Egham down the middle, Sandy found Kolodynski running onto his pass, and the latter lobbed the ball over the advancing Cunningham. Having established a solid lead the home side were comfortably in control, but still wanted more. Cunningham made a stunning double save from Sandy five minutes from the break, his heroics coming between the Poppies last two goals. Both came from Andy Hall marauding down the inside right channel, the first a cross shot that Cunningham came close to saving, but the young Egham custodian had no chance with the last one, a run and shot which whistled into the narrow gap between keeper and right post.
Well, I thought at half time, at least the egg sandwiches are nice and at least Kettering are not gloating. Egham had to make sure this did not become even more embarrassing, and managed it. There was certainly an element of the home side not going for it the way they did in the opening quarter, but nonetheless Egham played more as a team, which will be crucial for their remaining ten games. Cunningham stopped Hall scoring a hat-trick and Josh Moreman came close to making it six. Cunningham then tipped Sandy’s header, off a Jenson free kick, over his bar for a corner which led to Brendan Matthew, Egham’s last goalie after he replaced Norris at Royston, hacking the ball off the line. Sandy was then denied by a tremendous piece of defending by Danny Williamson and Cunningham again came to his side’s rescue as he turned a Jason Lee header over the bar. Towards the end Egham began to make some inroads themselves, with Basram Peshaj and Danny Bassett, who had worked as hard as they were allowed throughout the match, showing signs of developing a good understanding that hopefully will help the Sarnies get away from the 16th place to which the club dropped on Saturday. Bassett had a shot blocked and it looked as if Egham had pulled a goal back when Carter netted, but they were denied that “consolation” by a raised flag. Mitchell Gutteridge stopped Sandy scoring a half-dozenth, and Egham had the last word with a Bassett shot held by home keeper Richard Knight. Next up are Potters Bar Town at home on Saturday, followed by (the Berkeley Fields pitch permitting) a trip to North Greenford United on Tuesday and Daventry Town (away) on the 21st.
EGHAM TOWN: Jamie Cunningham, Danny Williamson, Ben Hunter, Harry Frost, Yinka Salami, Luke Neville, Brendan Matthew, Jordan Carter, Danny Bassett, Basram Peshaj, Haluna Masembe. Subs: Mitchell Gutteridge (Masembe, 68), Wayne Jackson (Frost, 59), Chad Goulter (Carter, 75), Jamie Norris.