Egham Town 1 Windsor 3

COMBINED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
MONDAY 9 APRIL 2012
EGHAM TOWN 1 (0) WINDSOR 3 (2)
Egham Town scorer: Dale Marvell (70, pen)

Two 1-3 defeats in three days made this Easter weekend one to forget for the Sarnies, but there was a slight difference in emphasis. Against Molesey Egham had had the opportunity to get a grip on the game but spurned it, whereas Windsor are, doubtless, just that bit better than their Runnymede Stadium opponents (all three Windsor goals were poor from a defensive point of view), and certainly today a whole lot luckier after some dreadful officiating at key moments.
On a damp and miserable Monday morning the first quarter of an hour was evenly matched but then Alex Rodrigues made a superb block on a Ryan O'Toole shot that otherwise have put the Stags ahead. Rodrigues then did it again, denying Windsor hot shot Michael Chennels with another excellent challenge. Jamie Houghton managed a 20 yard shot that was no trouble for keeper Rob Bullivant, and in a trice Egham were behind. Yashwa Romeo's powerful header forced a full stretch tip over by Paul Borg in the Egham goal, but from the corner Kyle Anthony was first to react at the near post to touch in the corner. Egham briefly thought they had a way back in from the spot as the referee R Wells pointed for a penalty after Matt Grave was fouled by George Gould, but Grave had been in an offside position. The home side most certainly should have had a penalty after Anthony hooked the ball clear with his hand in the 36 minute, but Mr Wells decided not see an offence. It mattered because seconds later O'Toole lifted the ball up for Chennels to head in unmolested, six yards out with the defence dishevelled. Graves' 45th minute 20 yarder forced Bullivant to concede a corner that Joe Chandiran headed over his own bar, then it was time for tea.
Mo Harkin picked up a yellow for a foul on Chennels early in the second period, but when Chandiran did studs-up job on Luke Muldowney he only got a nice chat from Mr Wells. Egham could not really complain about Houghton's caution for a foul on Jake Parsons but that tackle on Muldowney forced him off injured, replaced by Brendan Matthew. After 70 minutes Egham got their goal, another excellent penalty from Marvell, after Chris Ellis (former Egham centre back) pushed Matthew over off the ball as the two were running towards Tom Hedges' pass from the right. Ellis, ridiculously, claimed he'd done nothing wrong, and got away with telling Mr Wells to “fuck off”. Unbelievably weak refereeing like this does no-one any favours; Egham certainly suffered because guess who rose at the back post for an almost immediate Windsor response; Ellis. At only 1-2 with a man advantage who knows how this game would have developed? Marvell shot wide from distance and Borg whipped the ball off Chennel's toes and then had to do it again in the next attack, Rodrigues tidying up again. Some silly scuffling between Egham's Jake Galbraith and Windsor's Ryan Parsons saw two more yellows flourished by a referee who did well enough with the small stuff but failed to make right decisions at key moments.
Four games remain now; Egham have no chance of second place but must be wary of Hanworth Villa's threat for the third slot. Camberley have collapsed of late, and today got stuffed 0-4 at home by Cove, and Villa have taken advantage with a spectacular 5-1 win at Wembley the latest in a good run. Egham have played 38 and have 73 points; Villa 37 and 68. That means that Egham need, ideally, four wins to finish off the season, or at least only one draw and no losses, if the Ranch men are to be kept at bay, because Egham have an inferior goal difference. It may seem odd for a side that has netted 96 league goals this season but they are seriously outscored by the two sides above and below them and (this will not be news) let far too many goals in. Epsom & Ewell visit on Saturday. Egham won 4-1 away.

EGHAM TOWN: Paul Borg, Dan Hartlebury, Jake Galbraith, Lee Pasmore, Alex Rodrigues, Luke Muldowney, Jamie Houghton, Mo Harkin, Dale Marvell, Matt Grave, Tom Hedges. Subs: Brendan Matthew (Muldowney, 65), Ken During, Tom Brunton, Josh Henry, Enrico Rossoni.