BARTON ROVERS 0 EGHAM TOWN 1

SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2015
BARTON ROVERS 0 (0) EGHAM TOWN 1 (1)

Egham Town scorer: Brendan Matthew (6)

Where last season Egham Town won by the odd goal in nine today they won by odd goal in one. Where last season Brendan Matthew looked lost and missed a sitter today it was his powerful header that earnt three points for his new manager. Where last season Josh Andrew was man of the match for his wonderful hat-trick for the Sarnies today he was making his debut for CCL Hanworth Villa, who lost 1-4 at neighbours Ashford Town (Mx.). Andrew left the club in midweek, and Egham boss Gary Meakin marked his own debut with five new signings all starting. Hassan Soloman (right back), Reece Yorke (centre back), new skipper Kurtney Brooks (midfield), and fellow midfielders Dean McDonnell and Ollie Jones took a collective bow.
Egham were looking for their first away win of the season and started proceedings down the pronounced slope. Within seconds home midfielder Joe Reynolds flattened Jones with a crunching tackle that thankfully did nothing to prevent him and his fellow newbies from making a good impression. Jones had the best answer, taking Bajram Peshaj’s short corner and returning it for Peshaj’s pinpoint cross into the box, where Matthew rose to head the ball beyond home keeper Kyle Forster. (There is a nice video of the goal on the Egham Town site, courtesy of Herts & Essex Football.) With only six minutes gone Egham had a lead to defend while trying to add to their advantage. The loss of Soloman just past the half hour to a hamstring pull saw Larry Boateng on in his stead. Barton Rovers, whose own start saw them with two wins and four draws from the opening seven games, were clearly in decent form, forcing decent saves from Egham keeper in the 33rd minute when Jordan Davis found a gap to run into and ten minutes later off a Jack Keating shot.
Mason Welch-Turner, who had been on the left wing, gave way to Danny Bassett at half-time, giving Egham more punch up front. He and Matthew work well together and off a Matthew pass he forced a good save from Forster just past the hour mark. McDonnell was subbed for Tarome Hemmings, who almost immediately found Peshaj for a shot that was deflected for a corner. Towards the end Egham were, as Meakin admitted post-match, beginning to tire. Of the new players not all were fully match fit and playing uphill does not exactly help. However Jones showed skill and determination near the end off another Hemmings pass, firing in a shot that Forster again saved with his feet. For the majority of the second half Rovers had had more of the ball but a resolute defence in which Reece Yorke displayed his pedigree alongside Luke Neville held firm. Forster denied Matthew in the 89th minute then the home team threw everything at the Sarnies, Norris needing to save well from Elliott Bailey and, at the death, Yorke making a crucial challenge on Jordan Davis as he was about to shoot.
A clean sheet and three points is the perfect start for the new manager and his men. Unfortunately the next game is not until Tuesday week, at Uxbridge, although there is a friendly against Hendon on Monday to give Meakin a chance to see some more hopefuls in action.
EGHAM TOWN: Jamie Norris, Hassan Soloman, Mitchell Gutteridge, Reece Yorke, Luke Neville,, Kurtney Brooks (Captain), Dean McDonnell, Ollie Jones, Brendan Matthew, Bajram Peshaj, Mason Welch-Turner. Subs: Larry Boateng (Soloman, 34), Tarome Hemmings (McDonnell, 70), Seb Castello, Danny Bassett (Welch-Turner, HT), Iven Kumanda.