EPSOM & EWELL 2 EGHAM TOWN 0

Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier Division
Tuesday 30 October 2012
Epsom & Ewell 2 (1) Egham Town 0 (0)
Epsom & Ewell finally managed something they have not done in the six full seasons these two clubs have faced each other in the Combined Counties League, namely beat Egham Town at whichever ground they call home. When the Es played at Banstead Athletic’s Merland Rise ground the Sarnies had a couple of close calls against landlords and tenants but always left with at least a point. When Epsom played for two seasons at Merstham FC the run continued, with 2-2 and 4-1 scorelines. Now they play at Chipstead FC, a ground at which Egham have in recent times not succeeded, and the club to which John Hamsher and Wayne Noad, with half a dozen of the Egham Town squad, did the equivalent of a midnight flit, leaving a very bitter taste behind them. A little comfort, then, in seeing that they lost 0-3 at Maidstone United and slipped to 12th in Ryman One South…
Tonight the failure to test the home keeper until it was far too late underpinned a disappointing performance, all fancy footwork and playing in front of a wall of blue and white hooped men who took heart from surviving the first half of the first half before Robbie Burn’s was left free by Egham’s defence to flick home a header beyond Paul Borg. Burns was an Egham player for the briefest time under Hamsher, with one start, before taking up his usual role of scoring against the Sarnies. Had Egham, whose league position was second before kick off and is now third, been able to take advantage of a good early opening the whole scenario would have altered. Jacob Lambe ran at speed towards the home goal in the 4th minute, with keeper Colin Harris clearing only as far as Jamie Read, who slipped on the damp grass in the act of shooting, and the chance was gone. Read got more purchase on a shot a quarter of an hour later but Harris saved, and after 24 minutes Burns scored. Up to that point it looked as if Egham’s pressing game would pay dividends but they never worked out how to pull the home back four apart enough to find room for a clean strike. The frustration of tricky winger Tom Hedges was mirrored and multiplied behind the goal as the small knot of Sarnies waited in vain for a breakthrough.
The second half was no more rewarding. Egham looked in need of a bigger, stronger front man and in midfield someone who could unpick stubborn defences. New defender Bradley Fraser did his best with some good runs and a couple of shots that were near the target, as did Lambe up front, but it was no shock to experienced Egham watchers when a 77th minute free kick from the right fizzed across the box for Alex McGregor’s close range touch in off the post. Just before the second goal Brendan Matthew had replaced Luke Craig. With a minute left of regulation time the sub hit the inside of Harris’ left post, the ball rebounding away from danger, and with three minutes played of injury time Enrico Rossoni, on for Read, forced Harris into a decent save with a curling free kick. Apart from those late efforts and the one in the first half Harris had far too little to do. The frustration got to the players (Lambe booked for a foul on Dale Marvell, who scored 31 times for Egham last season) and the bench as well, Neerav Patel being sent from the dugout for only the referee knows what. Egham failed, therefore, to take advantage of Guernsey dropping points with their 1-1 draw at Horley Town. Epsom and Ewell are now 4th. Badshot Lea become top dogs after their 2-0 win at home to Sandhurst Town. Wembley drawing 1-1 with Bedfont Sports completed tonight’s results. On Saturday Egham entertain Ash United, who beat Epsom & Ewell 3-2 on Saturday. They are currently in 14th place.
EGHAM TOWN: Paul Borg, Jake Galbraith, Bradley Fraser, Alex Rodrigues, Jim Ward, Luke Muldowney, Tommy Hedges, Jamie Houghton, Jamie Read, Jacob Lambe, Luke Craig. Subs: Louis Chandler-Joseph, Enrico Rossoni (Read, 82), Steve Coultas, Brendan Matthew (Craig, 73).