Sarnies 0 SYCOB 3

CALOR ONE CENTRAL – SATURDAY 21 DECEMBER 2013

It was never likely that Egham Town would negotiate their first season in Calor One Central without conceding a league double. This won’t be the last if things don’t improve quickly. Having ridden their luck in the goalless game at Leighton Town another reshuffle of the pack saw centre-back Richard Byrne back for the first time since suffering a bad injury at Shortwood United in August. Jake Galbraith, one of Egham’s most consistently reliable players this season, was suspended so was replaced at left back by Ashley Quashie.
Eight minutes in Egham were unlucky not to take the lead against a side who had won 3-2 earlier this season. Clever linking place between Ryan O’Toole and Louis Chandler-Joseph saw the latter racing onto a good through ball but his stabbed shot hit the foot of the left post. Three minutes later O’Toole was creating again, laying the ball off for Joe Chandiram’s 20 yard shot that, but for a waved leg by Jordan Ajanlekoko would have seen the Sarnies take the lead. Chandiram tried again a minute later but James Reading did just enough to keep the ball out. Thereafter it all went wrong for Egham Town. On the break Beaconsfield did not appear to pose much of a threat but Jack Hutchinson found the net with a cross shot that caught the Egham back four on the hop. On the quarter hour O’Toole went in for a tackle on Ajanlekoko. Referee Andrew Dine, who failed utterly throughout the game to allow for the horrible conditions, booked the Egham striker, who,stupidly, decided to try to negotiate with the man in black. This went on for a while, until the inevitable red was shown. From the subsequent free kick SYCOB attacked down their left and Tom O’Regan whacked a fierce, angled shot across Gary Ross in the Egham goal. Egham, then, faced a 0-2 scoreline against a decent side, and while missing their 13 goal leading striker. Sad to say there was never any sign of anything even remotely resembling a fight back for the rest of the first period, and it got worse with the second half not even a minute old. Byrne had the ball, lost it, and in no time at all the ball was rolled into the back of Ross’ goal by the criminally untended Aaron Morgan, allowed to turn and shoot from the edge of the box. Having thereby nullified whatever Lee Passmore would have said at half time the visitors seemed content to hold their hosts at arm’s length. Only Chandler-Joseph’s 65th minute shot, after good work by Calvin Thomas and Stanislaus, forced Reading into action, and later Kyle Anthony headed a Chandiram corner against the bar.
Egham face next three sides they have beaten already this season. On Boxing Day, weather permitting, the hurdle in front of them is a game at Chertsey Town (4-1, 26 August) with a 12.30 start, and on Saturday a home game awaits, Aylesbury (3-0, 24 August) the visitors. On New Year’s Day Ashford Town (Mx.) visit the Runnymede Stadium, kick off 3 p.m. The Sarnies beat the Ash Trees 3-2 in an entertaining FA Trophy tie on 5 October. Egham, now in 15th after this defeat takes their “GL” total into double figures, are still the lowest placed side with a positive goal difference, which offers some kind of succour. They simply have to get maximum points for the next three games to distance themselves from their local rivals.

1. Gary Ross 2. Josh Andrew 3. Ashley Quarshie 4. Arran Taylor-Ives (skipper) 5. Kyle Anthony 6. Richard Byrne 7. Andy Crossley 8. Joe Chandiram 9. Reis Stanislaus 10. Ryan O’Toole 11. Louis Chandler-Joseph. Subs: 12. Brendan Matthew (9/74 min)13. Jamie Norris (gk) 14. Jim Ward (6/60) 15. Luke Muldowney 16. Calvin Thomas (7/56).