Back to back clean sheets and five unbeaten will be the key things to be taken from this maiden visit to CB Hounslow United’s Green Lane ground. Egham rise to 14th in the Combined Counties League Premier Division, with 7 points from 6 games. They would have known that they should have at least 9 after throwing two points away in the home game against a Banstead Athletic side thrashed in midweek and yesterday. In the South London sunshine Egham played pretty much in the first half as they had done in the FA Vase win at Holmesdale, not penetrating, misplacing passes and generally failing to impress. The return of winger Kiemon Robinson to the squad after a short hiatus and the first start for Zaine Gangadeen since the previous Vase win against FC Elmstead should have been a platform for an attacking performance from the visitors but that did not materialise until the second period. The most clear cut chance fell to CB’s Triston Andrews, but Tristan Thomas in the Egham goal was able to save.
Egham were better in the second half. From the second minute, when Jay O’Connell fired in a cross shot that Gangadeen nearly reached at the back post, the ball was almost always in the Sarnies’ possession. Home keeper Rhys Forster made a full length save from Gangadeen, then Anthony Thomas went on a slaloming run that ended with a pass to O’Connell that almost tore a hole in the home defence as the visitors dominated to such an extent that the home defenders spent a fair bit of their time and energy shouting at each other. Luke Maguire found Gangaadeen for the next chance, Forster saving again. Anthony Thomas was replaced by Craige Tomkins after 67 minutes, which, as at Holmesdale, proved crucial. Robinson cut inside and forced another decent save from Forster, but the impressive home goalie could do nothing about the opening goal. Gangadeen took a short pass from Robinson before looking up and hammering his shot into the top left corner. Forster was impressed: “What a goal!” The game was held up as Tristan Thomas received treatment after saving from Pierre Moran, but was still able to pull off a flying save from Triston Andrew’s fierce shot seven minutes from time. A goal for CB then would have been unfortunate and the chance served as a reminder that the Sarnies needed a second goal to secure the win. Once Robinson had headed a half chance over at one end and the Egham keeper tipped Billy Roach’s free kick over the bar the killer goal came in spectacular fashion as Tomkins whipped in a 20 yard free kick with pace and precision into the top right corner. Mr Forster was impressed again: “You lot don’t score ordinary goals, do you, you only score worldies”. Perhaps open to question, but it is good to see some stability at the back with attacking potential. Those qualities will be under scrutiny in consecutive home games this week, against Raynes Park Vale in the first round of the Cherry Red Records Premier Challenge Cup (Tuesday) and Saturday’s CCL encounter with Sheerwater.
EGHAM TOWN: Tristan Thomas, Ben Peden, Justin Thompson, Adam Humphries, Trist an Toney (Captain), Luke Maguire, Jay O’Connell, Prince Mbengui, Anthony Thomas, Zaine Gangadeen, Kieron Robinson. Substitutes: Jake Sobolak, Craige Tomkins (Thomas, 67), Connor Channon, Lekan Ejinwunmi, Kildane Tesfu.