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BARTON ROVERS 4 EGHAM TOWN 5

BARTON ROVERS 4 EGHAM TOWN 5

Tempest Ward10 Aug 2014 - 13:41
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Josh hat-trick secures first day win

THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CENTRAL
SATURDAY 9 AUGUST 2014

BARTON ROVERS 4 (1)
Peacock 2 (27, 86)
Young 54, Peters 90+1

EGHAM TOWN 5 (4)
Andrew 3 (9, 16, 79)
Byrne 25 Read 29

In his pre-season chat with the local paper Egham boss Lee Passmore spoke of the pre-season preparations being “a bit disjointed.” That looked particularly true in the last friendly, a 0-1 loss at Walton & Hersham, but by playing more cohesively they twice had in the first half of this remarkable season opener, at 3-0 and 4-1, comfortable margins that should have seen an easy win. Instead they allowed a determined home side to frighten the life out of them before leaving Sharpenhoe Road with three points.
Egham, who last won their opening game two seasons ago (and won the title thereafter; unlikely to see that happening this season, to be realistic), were playing down the slope in the first half, and used it to their advantage. Inside two minutes Josh Andrew, who went on to score Egham’s first hat-trick since Jamie Read’s at South Park in the CCL title winning season, was just a little slow in getting a shot off in a good position but after nine minutes he put his side 1-0 up after a superb pass by Reis Stanislaus. The scoring shot nicked off a defender and looped over Kyle Forster, the home keeper. Then Andrew, off another pinpoint Stanislaus feed, scored with a low cross shot for 2-0. Egham looked dangerous every time they had the ball in the Rovers half and debutant Dan Read tested home keeper with a curling shot. Egham skipper Luke Muldowney cleared off the line from a Keshi Anderson shot as Rovers tried to get back into the game but twenty five minutes into the new season Egham were three to the good. Joe Chandiram swung in a corner kick and it found Richie Byrne unmarked at the near post for a simple scoring header. Barton were being overrun but in Nat Peacock and Anderson they have a potent front pair and the former grabbed what seemed like a lifeline with a smart finish after 27 minutes. Two minutes later it seemed home hopes were dashed. With a move that, as Sarnie stalwart Badger pointed out, had more passes in it than any in pre-season, full back Jake Galbraith advanced downhill, played a one-two with Stanislaus and ran into the box to deliver a pass that debutant Dan Read slid in to convert. 4-1at half time? Nearly 4-2, but for a brilliant save by Egham keeper Jamie Norris off an errant defensive header. Norris then had to head Ryan Lake’s header clear. With the half coming to a close Stanislaus shot across the face of the goal and it was 4-1 at half time…
This, though, is Egham; historically the Sarnies’ fans don’t like watching Egham defend and when, after 54 minutes, Norris called for and then dropped a simple catch at the feet of the grateful Ricky Young it was easy to see why. At 5-2, with a great finish by the rampant Andrew, after more excellent approach play by Galbraith, the game seemed safe. Dwayne Antonio, debuting after a move from Hanworth Villa, used his speed to threaten more goals and Weight went off for another ex-Villan, Ricky Farnden to make his bow but off an Anderson cross Peacock had acres of space for his second goal. Egham were sweating now and it got worse a minute into injury time when more absentee defending let James Peters tap in for the last goal in an extraordinary game. Egham next play Aylesbury United at Leighton Town’s ground on Wednesday.
EGHAM TOWN: Jamie Norris Luke Muldowney Jake Galbraith Richie Byrne Ryan Lake Scott Weight Josh Andrew Joe Chandiram
Reis Stanislaus Dan Read Calvin Thomas Subs: Ricky Farnden (Weight, 81) Duane Antonio (Read, 75) Lee Morley (Lake, 87) Matt Grave Garry Aulsberry

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