BEDFONT SPORTS 0 EGHAM TOWN 2

SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER 2012
Egham Town mourn loss of dear friend
Egham Town are today mourning the loss their club President Brian Askew, who passed away this morning after a long illness. Egham Town wish to pass on their condolences to Brian's family and friends.
Brian had been part of the fabric of the club since its re-establishment in 1963, remaining a passionate and vocal supporter throughout. He held the posts of Secretary and Treasurer and for the last few years was the Club President.
COMBINED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
BEDFONT SPORTS 0 (0) EGHAM TOWN 2 (1)
Egham Town scorers: Jamie Houghton (33), Brendan Matthew (54)
Egham Town regained top spot after this awkward match against Bedfont Sports, and were clearly glad of the three points, but proceedings were overshadowed by the death early on Saturday morning of Club President and long-time fan Brian Askew, after a long illness. News of his passing only reached most Egham Town fans once they had arrived at the Recreation Ground. Sports’ supporters were commendably respectful in the observance of a pre-match minute’s silence.
Egham gave a debut to Jim Ward at centre back with skipper Arran Taylor-Ives suffering a groin strain. The new man slotted in seamlessly as Egham dominated possession. The match was, to say the least, feisty, and the home side ended with only nine men on the park. The tone was set early on as Sean Ryan tangled with Tom Hedges, retaliating after being beaten for skill, but getting away with it. Then Jamie Houghton collected a yellow for a foul on Stuart Bamford, with the small but vociferous home crowd shouting for something more. Ryan fouled Hedges again, receiving a caution, this being followed by Aston Ventour flattening Louis Chandler-Joseph, covering at right back for Matt Smith, absent with a damaged right leg. If that sounds like it was a foul-fest that would be incorrect, but finally Egham had some reward for almost total domination of the play. Brendan Matthew slipped past two defenders but had his shot blocked, happily only as far as Jamie Houghton, lurking on the edge of the box for a well struck third goal in three games. That was the mark reached by Matthew on 54 minutes with a neat finish as he converted Enrico Rossoni’s pass when one-on-one with keeper Dane Buss. Home player-manager Gavin Bamford was cautioned, then defender Adam Turner and forward Joe Jackson and the cards just kept coming. After 72 minutes Turner was shown yellow again, and the requisite red, after a foul on Luke Muldowney, and took his time leaving the pitch too. Jack Watts was the next home man to be booked then Ryan must have thought Turner would be lonely in the dressing room on his own as he picked up another card. In amongst this home indiscipline Sports’ Azagba Nduku forced a good save from the otherwise almost redundant Paul Borg in the Egham goal and Jacob Lambe (signed from North Greenford United) replaced Matthew up front. Luke Craig replaced Enrico Rossoni as the visitors, with victory as good as assured, perhaps tried too much to walk a third goal in against nine men.
EGHAM TOWN: Paul Borg, Louis Chandler-Joseph, Jake Galbraith, Jim Ward, Alex Rodrigues, Luke Muldowney, Tom Hedges, Jamie Houghton, Brendan Matthew, Jamie Read, Enrico Rossoni. Subs: Charlie McCarthy (Read, HT), Luke Craig (Rossoni, 80), Steve Coultas, Jacob Lambe (Matthew, 72), Junior Wright.
Weather permitting, Egham entertain Farnborough in a friendly, again, on Tuesday, before entering this season’s FA Vase at the First Round stage against Lordswood, from the Kent League. The League website reports that, in the County Senior Cup, “Lordswood went to ex-Kent League and currently Kent Invicta League side Crockenhill and came away winning 5-0. A Richard Dimmock hat-trick and singles from Joe Kane and Mark Murison saw Lordswood safely through to meet Invicta side Woodstock Park in round two.” Lordswood sit in fifth place, with games in hand on all but two others in the Premier Division. If there is no result after 90 minutes in this match there will be a replay on Tuesday 16 October. Egham earnt two byes for finishing 4th last season; Lordswood reached this stage by beating two Combined Counties League sides: Westfield (CCL One) 3-2 away and Raynes Park Vale (CCL Premier) 2-1 at home.

Mark Ferguson
markeghamtownfc@yahoo.co.uk