EGHAM TOWN 4 CAMBERLEY TOWN 3

COMBINED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 1 DECEMBER 2012
EGHAM TOWN 4 (1) CAMBERLEY TOWN 3 (1)

Egham Town scorers: Jamie Read (13), Reis Stanislaus 3 (52, 65, 68)

On 23 January 2010, under Steve Baker, Egham Town took what was, given the record between these clubs, a somewhat surprising 4-0 lead against Camberley Town. Baker made a couple of substitutions, the momentum was lost, and Camberley pulled it back to 4-2, with Egham relieved to hear the final whistle. Today Egham were 4-1 up, took off the two men who had scored the goals, the momentum was lost and Camberley pulled it back to 4-3, with Egham relieved to hear the final whistle.
The loss of a game last week to the inclement weather (at home against Horley Town) did not affect Egham’s table topping position and initial signs were that the rest did the side some good with a goal coming in the 13th minute. Early control of midfield gave them chances to attack, with Jamie Read and Reis Stanislaus looking lively. In the absence of the livewire Tommy Hedges his No. 7 shirt was taken by Steve Coultas, who lifted a wonderful pass down the middle of the park for Read, who converted the chance with a beautifully judged chip shot over keeper Jordan Westbrook. The problem was that they then failed to keep the visitors quiet and from a centrally placed free kick five minutes later Paul Borg was beaten by a very well judged free kick by Nick Lyskov. Camberley, whose form this season has been uncharacteristically poor, were jolted into a far livelier period of play, Egham again thankful for Borg’s continuing excellence in goal as he made a crucial save from Nathan Turner’s rising drive.
Full back Bradley Fraser had gone off briefly after an incident towards the end of the first half and did not reappear after the break, Louis Chandler-Joseph coming on in his stead. Camberley were keen to keep the pressure on their hosts and it looked as if Egham were in for a difficult second half, but then Stanislaus broke from 35 yards out, was clipped in the box, and, even though Read has taken the penalties so far this season, stepped up to slam the ball in from the spot. That took the pressure off and Camberley were subdued, at least temporarily. On 65 minutes skipper Luke Muldowney sparked the move that led to the next goal, his hard work forcing a mistake in the Krooner’s midfield and releasing Jamie Houghton, who carried the ball to the edge of the box. He had the presence of mind to flick the ball up for a square pass to Stanislaus who in turn had the skill, composure and neck muscles to guide a clever header home. Three minutes Stanislaus had his first Egham Town hat-trick, he and Read breaking in tandem from midfield before his clinical finish off Read’s short pass. The strikers were replaced by Brendan Matthew and Jacob Lambe, the latter failing to make the most of a fabulous chance for 5-1 from the former’s run and pass. Half chances came for both replacement front men but then two moments of defensive inattentiveness allowed Aaron Agyemang’s diving header and Doug Ford’s driven finish to make the final ten minutes unnecessarily tense.
The stats are good though; this was a fifth win on the spin in the league and the 15th in 19, so relegation should not be a worry this season. Egham have an away trip to Beckenham, of the Kent League, in the Surrey Senior Cup on Tuesday, and then to Raynes Park Vale on Saturday. Vale have recorded wins in their last three league games and their infamous slope makes Grand Vale a difficult place to leave with three points in the bag. Arran Taylor-Ives could be back in the squad, the club captain having missed a large part of the season with a groin strain but now back to full fitness.
EGHAM TOWN: Paul Borg, Bradley Fraser, Jake Galbraith, Jim Ward, Junior Wright, Luke Muldowney (Captain), Steve Coultas, Jamie Houghton, Reis Stanislaus, Jamie Read, Craig Lucas. Subs: Brendan Matthew (Read, 70), Jacob Lambe (Stanislaus, 80), Alex Rodrigues, Arran Taylor-Ives, Louis Chandler-Jospeh (Fraser, HT).