EGHAM TOWN 1 KINGS LANGLEY 0

EVO-STIK SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CENTRAL
TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016
EGHAM TOWN 1 (1) KING’S LANGLEY 0 (0)
CALLUM WEBB (6)

Egham Town started 2016 with a superb win against promotion rivals Kings Langley and in so doing moved back up to 3rd place. Callum Webb’s 6th minute goal was all that separated the sides who started in 5th and 6th places respectively, and avenged the 1-2 reverse at Gaywood Park on 18 August.
The Sarnies had ended 2015 with 1-0 wins at St Ives Town and AFC Rushden & Diamonds but the latter took place on 22 December. A series of postponements meant that the closest they got to match-play was a friendly on a 3G pitch on Saturday at the not-quite finished Beaconsfield Road HQ of Vanarama South strugglers Hayes & Yeading United. In fairly unpleasant conditions Egham’s top scorer Brendan Matthew put Egham ahead within 15 seconds of the kick-off before United went 3-1 just past the hour. A triallist pulled a goal back for a 2-3 loss that played its part in ensuring that Egham had a decent work out before the resumption of league duties.
Egham were on the front foot from the off. Playing some neat and intricate football on a decent surface a wonderful curving pass by Bajram Pashaj found Webb unmarked for a first time shot across goal and into the bottom left corner of the net. Pashaj bent a free kick just wide of Xavi Comas’ goal and from a couple of corners the home side should have increased their advantage. Wes Daly had a shot deflected wide as Egham kept up their early pressure but with both sides now on 44 goals in the league there was always the chance that the Kings could find an equaliser. Lorenzo Ferrari missed the target in the 32nd minute, but not by much, but from then to the half time whistle there was a good deal of scuffling endeavour without either side threatening to score.
Egham had an opportunity early in the second half after an incisive run from Pashaj had opened up the visitors’ defence, but Wes Daly was narrowly off target. Reece Yorke flicked a header just wide off a Pashaj free kick awarded after Danny Hutchins floored Egham wide man Chris Henry, and Brendan Matthew should have done better with a free header from Webb’s cross. Kings Langley had a fair amount of the ball but Egham’s defence is a solid unit and managed to minimise the threat with some excellent defending.
Three wins, all 1-0, and all against sides in the top six show how much Egham’s fortunes have turned round since that August game against the newly promoted Kings. Egham looked like relegation candidates but under Gary Meakin they have 38 points from 48. The rest of January sees the Sarnies away to Aylesbury United on Saturday, then home to Royston Town and Barton Rovers. Then it’s Hanwell Town away and Bedford Town at home.
EGHAM TOWN: Jamie Norris, Elliott Carey, Ryan Parsons, Reece Yorke, Luke Neville, Kurtney Brooks, Callum Webb, Wes Daly, Brendan Matthew, Bajram Pashaj, Chris Henry. Substitutes: Ryan Phillips, Tarome Hemmings, Jake Cass (Henry, 81), Ryan De Battista (Webb, 86), Ollie Jones.