CHERRY RED RECORDS COMBINED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2019
CAMBERLEY TOWN 1 (1)
Carl Gastang (29, pen)
EGHAM TOWN 4 (2)
Anthony Thomas 3 (10, 27, 60), Omar Hassan (86)

On a sodden pitch and in incessant rain Egham Town built on the encouraging 2-2 at 4th placed Spelthorne Sports to take on 5th placed Camberley Town on the Krooner Park slope and come away with a comfortable win that deserved more than just lifting Tony Choules’ side to 14th.
Egham next face Badshot Lea at home on Tuesday, a match between hosts with only one home win in five games against visitors with four wins out of five on the road.
To win that one the Sarnies will need at least to replicate the spirit on show in this excellent performance.
It was perhaps a surprise that the game went ahead at all, but although there were some puddles referee Tom Simmonds deemed the pitch playable. Given that Egham’s defence is not as watertight as manager Choules would like it was almost guaranteed that there would be goals. That Egham took the lead just ten minutes in was encouraging, a foul on Luke Maguire just outside the home box being punished by Anthony Thomas’ low and accurate free kick. Egham had had to start the match without skipper Tristan Toney, who was stuck in traffic, and called in Jake Sobolak. After 27 minutes Egham went two up, Thomas taking a long pass in his stride down the inside right channel before drilling a low cross shot past home keeper Kie Plumbley. Two minutes later Camberley pulled one back, a penalty being awarded for an alleged push on Billy Upton. Carl Gastang converted the spot kick. It gave the home side a lift, and Egham needed a goal line clearance from Adam Humphries after Mark Jordan fired in Baxter’s cross. Egham hit back, Kiemon Robinson hammering a rising shot goalwards, only denied by an excellent save from Camberley’s young keeper, who had a superb game throughout. The expected corner didn’t come because Mr Simmonds missed the save. He also missed the foul on Jay O’Connell in the Camberley area just before the break.
Prince Mbengui went off to be replaced by Omar Hassan five minutes after the restart as he was not feeling well. It gave Hassan a chance to show what he can do. He had started the season well but needed some time off and now looks ready to fulfil his potential. The first key thing he did was send a long pass to Humphries who in turn delivered a superb cross to Thomas. The Sarnies’ leading scorer killed the ball dead before smacking the ball up into the top right corner. That made it four hat-tricks so far, all away from Runnymede Stadium. Hassan drove a shot just past the left post, Robinson’s drive went past the right post and Maguire’s effort was parried by Plumbley. In the 68th minute Hassan took on and beat Gastang before finding Thomas with a crossfield pass to Thomas. This time the striker’s ball control was again superb but he dithered with his shot and the chance was lost. Five minutes later, with Egham well on top, the lights went out; only the floodlights, not those in the clubhouse, nor in Krooner Road. Eight minutes of darkness later play was resumed. Four minutes time it was Thomas’ turn for an assist, finding Hassan with a short, square pass that Hassan rattled into the top left corner. Thomas and Robinson departed, Craige Thomas and Costa Rodrigues playing for the last dozen minutes. The home side’s Issac Nash took the spotlight late on, forcing a save from Luke Daley in the Egham goal and then getting himself sin-binned.
After the Badshot Lea game Egham face two more big tests at home, against Abbey Rangers and Sutton Common Rovers on the next two Saturdays. On Tuesday 26 November the Sarnies are at home again, facing Frimley Green in the Specasvers Surrey Senior Cup First Round.
EGHAM TOWN: Luke Daley, Ben Peden, Andy Whorms, Rory Da Costa (Captain), Jake Sobolak, Adam Humphries, Jay O’Connell, Luke Maguire, Anthony Thomas, Prince Mbengui, Kiemon Robinson. Substitutes: Lekan Ejinwunmi, Omar Hassan (Mbengui, 50), Costa Rodrigues (Robinson, 78), Jake Sobolak, Craige Tomkins (Thomas, 78) Tristan Toney.