EGHAM TOWN 2 ARLESEY TOWN 1

EVO-STIK SOUTHERN ONE CENTRAL – SATURDAY 5 MARCH 2016
EGHAM TOWN 2 (1) Brendan Matthew (39), Reece Yorke (83)
ARLESEY 1 (1) Christian Tavernier (7, pen)

For the sixth match in a row Egham Town showed the benefits of patience and endurance as they scored another late goal and picked up another three points. At Leighton Town Chris Henry scored the only goal in the 88th minute, Callum Webb did the same in the 94th at Potters Bar Town, Luke Neville sealed a comeback from 0-2 against Ware with the winner five minutes from time and Henry made it 2-2 against Uxbridge with eight minutes left. At North Greenford United Chris Moore marked his debut with a 95th minute second in a 2-1 win and on Saturday this most remarkable run continued with Reece Yorke’s decisive header with three minutes of regulation time left. That took Egham’s unbeaten run to six, with 16 points from 18. With Kings Langley (67 points from 33) now having a go as top dogs after a 4-1 win at Aylesbury United and second placed AFC Rushden & Diamonds (64 from 33) not playing the Sarnies’ latest victory sees them with 63 points after 30 games. Below the Sarnies are Royston Town (played 31) and St Ives Town (32), both on 60 points. Sat five points outside the play-off places are Northwood, whom Egham visit on Saturday, after a trip to Hanwell Town (19th) on Tuesday.
Arlesey, like Uxbridge, had been hammered 7-0 at their respective homes by Egham, and, like Uxbridge, were utterly determined not to suffer similar humiliation. In fact the Bedfordshire side, who had come to the Runnymede Stadium having lost their last five away games, took the lead, albeit with a disputed penalty, in the 7th minute. Home keeper Jamie Norris was deemed to have fouled Terry Williams and Christian Tavernier converted the penalty. Ryan De Battista had a shot charged down off as the ball rebounded from Henry’s initial effort and had the same result shortly afterwards as visiting keeper Nick Thompson stood his ground. Williams wasted a more than presentable chance to give the visitors a 2-0 lead in the 19th minute, then Egham moved up a gear as Henry’s quick throw in found Bajram Pashaj in space for a well struck, sharply angled drive that Thompson turned away with a full length dive to his left. In the next foray forward Pashaj and De Battista played a one-two in the box, the former’s shot being cleared by Arlesey skipper Matt Hall. Pashaj and Battista combined again to create a half-chance for top scorer Brendan Matthew at the back post, but Matthew’s header found the side netting from a difficult angle. Henry collected a needless yellow card for one of the worst dives seen in a long time as the Sarnies kept the pressure on. Midfield schemer Kurtney Brooks lifted a long pass into the path of Matthew, who rolled his shot wide of the left post, then Henry stepped neatly inside Nathan Olukanmi to make room for a shot that Thompson held. Henry’s next intervention was crucial as he made room down the left again. His shot was too much this time for Thompson, who could only parry the ball into the perfect place for Matthew to nod home the equaliser. Thompson then grabbed the ball out of the back of his net and ignored Pashaj’s entreaties to let go; both got a bit heated and both were booked.
De Battista was replaced by Ryan Parsons at half time, allowing Henry to add his goal threat to that of Matthew down the middle. Jake Cass gave way to Elliott Carey in midfield twelve minutes later and with his first touch Carey nearly gave Egham the lead. Henry took a corner, Thompson punched the ball and Carey’s instinctive header was cleared off the line. Moore, the well-travelled and experienced striker who was the hero at North Greenford, came on for Mitchell Gutteridge but his presence was most certainly not required in the 76th minute when an almighty scramble in the Arlesey area saw him get in the way of would surely have been Carey’s first Egham goal. Carey was next denied by a good save from Thompson after Moore had slipped in a pass for Henry to cross into the danger area. The save led to another Henry corner, cleared only partially, and this time it was Yorke (pictured) whose shot was intercepted by a defender’s boot. That led in turn to another corner (wrongly awarded!), then another. Henry again took it and, despite the best efforts of Olukanmi, the ball crossed the line for Yorke's second goal in two games and the Sarnies’ 20th League win this campaign. Pashaj tried from some 45 yards to add gloss to the result and Moore picked up a daft yellow for kicking the ball away. In fact in a game that was never approached being dirty referee Michael Heavey dished out six yellows to Arlesey and five to Egham, with only one for a foul. At the business end of the season these cautions could have a telling effect as the Sarnies seek promotion and Arlesey hope to stay clear of relegation.
EGHAM TOWN: Jamie Norris, Hassan Sulaiman, Mitchell Gutteridge, Reece Yorke, Luke Neville (Captain), Kurtney Brooks, Chris Henry, Jake Cass, Brendan Matthew, Ryan De Battista, Bajram Pashaj. Substitutes: Ryan Parsons (De Battista, HT), Callum Webb, Elliott Carey (Cass, 57), Ollie Jones, Chris Moore (Gutteridge, 72).