Egham Town 4 Ash United

CHERRY RED RECORDS COMBINED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

Saturday 3 November 2012 – EGHAM TOWN 4 (2) ASH UNITED (0)

Egham Town scorers: Tommy Hedges 2 (8, 30), Jamie Read 2 (61 (pen), 90)

Former Chalfont St Peter, Wealdstone and probably a club or two more – striker Reis Stanislaus has now joined Egham Town. Although his was a non-scoring debut, his impact was immediate. Against the side that beat the side that beat Egham on Tuesday, Egham dominated possession from the start, with the new man slipping seamlessly into the front line with Jamie Read. Power, pace and pressure were the key factors in this game, and unlike against Epsom & Ewell, there was a willingness to mix up the close passing game that was frustrated by a deep defensive line midweek with some long range drives. Crucially, Ash were not as good in defence as the Es and in were behind after just eight minutes when Tom Hedges ran across the six yard line to thump home Jake Galbraith’s perfect pass with a magnificent header. Read was unlucky with a volley that smacked into a defender from close range and Stanislaus fired just wide after a run triggered by Read’s pass. On the half hour Hedges had doubled the lead with a crisp finish to a slick move involving Galbraith and Read, whose layoff was perfect for the scoring low drive beyond Mike Brawley. Luke Craig, in from the left wing, Stanislaus and Hedges all came close to making the half time score 3-0. Ash had done nothing in the half to test a home back line that saw Louis Chandler-Joseph resume right back duties after loan signing Bradley Fraser was recalled by Farnborough.
Read had a golden chance to strike the third three minutes into the second half after Stanislaus had been astute enough to find him with a perfectly weighted pass, but the shot went high over the Jungle End stand. It took what looked to this scribbler’s eyes a somewhat soft penalty after a trip on Craig, but Read was not arguing with the decision and converted easily from the spot. Midfielder Jamie Houghton and Stanislaus went off to appreciative cheers from the Egham faithful with Steve Coultas and Jacob Lambe on in their stead, and then Craig was subbed by Enrico Rossoni. The changes maintained the attacking potential of the home side who would have added a fourth with a thunderous wallop by Coultas but for a brilliant save by Brawley, diving to his right to turn the ball out for a corner. Shots came in from various angles, skipper Luke Muldowney coming the closest from distance. In the 90th minute the deserved fourth was created by Hedges skipping past two tackles but instead of going for the glory of his second Egham hat-trick he selflessly played in Read, who in turn beat another challenge and slid the ball home. More could, and perhaps should, have been added even in injury time but Rossoni and Hedges fired wide.
Results elsewhere, and one postponement as Guernsey’s home game with Epsom & Ewell was rained off, meant that Egham have once again climbed to the pinnacle of the CCL Premier table, but with the sides immediately under them all having games in hand. Egham, who next Saturday have a trip to Molesey (who beat second placed Badshot Lea 1-0) have played 15 and have 33 points. Badshot Lea have 33 also, from 13, but are narrowly behind on goal difference and favourites Guernsey have 31 from 12 and a huge GD of 35 already. Molesey sit in 7th (14:26). Egham need to improve on their League record at Walton Road to maintain their grip on top place, while for the League the issue of Guernsey having games called off (two already) and the subsequent fixture shuffling that causes above and beyond normal rearrangements must be a headache.
Other results: Camberley Town 0 Wembley 2, Colliers Wood United 1 Bedfont Sports 2, Cove 3 Dorking 0, Farnham Town 2 Hanworth Villa 1, Horley Town 3 Hartley Wintney 1, Windsor 1 South Park 5.
EGHAM TOWN: Paul Borg, Louis Chandler-Joseph, Jake Galbraith, Jim Ward, Alex Rodrigues, Luke Muldowney, Tom Hedges, Jamie Houghton, Reis Stanislaus, Jamie Read, Luke Craig. Subs: Jacob Lambe (Stanislaus, 68), Steve Coultas (Houghton, 68), Matt Smith, Enrico Rossoni (Craig, 75), Brendan Matthew.