Egham Town 2 Northwood 4

CALOR LEAGUE CENTRAL ONE
TUESDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2013
EGHAM TOWN 2 (2) NORTHWOOD 4 (1)
EGHAM TOWN SCORERS: ADAM BERNARD (3), RYAN O’TOOLE (15)

One of the things managers say after a defeat is that there are lessons to be learnt from it. I have no idea if Lee Passmore would say the same after this result, but perhaps there are things to consider, such as holding on to a two goal, and being able to maintain the intensity of play that gained that advantage.
Egham were ahead after just three minutes, Adam Bernard rifling a low shot that on its way from the edge of the box dipped just in front of keeper Rob Blackburn and under his dive. On the quarter hour Bernard performed all kinds of twists and turns to bamboozle Oliver Sprague before sending in a perfect cross for Ryan O’Toole to rise at the back post and power in a header that kissed the underside of the bar on its way in. O’Toole and Marcus Moody fired wide as Egham tried to get a third, which, as the half continued, looked increasingly necessary. The truth of that was seen as the visitors pulled a goal back in the 43rd minute, Dave Lawrence finishing off a break featuring strong running by Karl Oliyide.
Early in the second half Niko Muir got away with jumping into Gary Ross, the Egham keeper, while the Egham man was airborne. Luke Muldowney, partnering Arran Taylor-Ives in central defence, gave way to Jim Ward in the 55th minute. Within three minutes the Middlesex side were level. I have no idea if the two were linked; what did happen was that Northwood were quick on the break and Oliyide finished. The failure of the referee to punish the most blatant handball we have seen since, ooh, Barton Rovers, meant that the previously booked Lawrence stayed on the pitch, and then after some argy-bargy caused entirely by Northwood skipper Mark Burgess from a Joe Chandiram free kick Reis Stanislaus rose to head past the stranded keeper and onto the foot of the right hand post. Somehow it became clear that this match was now going to run Northwood’s way, and after Lawrence scored his second (when, of course, he should not even have been on the pitch) in the 70th minute and Muir added another seven minutes later it was down to Ross to make a fine save to prevent a fifth.
Chalfont St Peter’s 2-1 win against Chertsey Town sees us drop to 17th. Leighton Town, four points below us, lost 0-1 at home to Rugby Town and Daventry Town beat North Greenford United 4-1.
EGHAM TOWN: Gary Ross, Josh Andrew, Jake Galbraith, ArranTaylor-Ives, Luke Muldowney, Joe Chandiram, Adam Bernard, Marcus Moody, Reis Stanislaus, Ryan O’Toole, Jacob Lambe. Subs: Brendan Matthew (Lambe, 90), Andy Crossley (Chandiram, 90), Jim Ward (55), Louis Chandler-Joseph.