Since Tony Choules took over at Egham Town the Sarnies had only lost once, at home in the CCL Premier Challenge Cup to the Raynes Park Vale side they visit on Saturday. That night he made massive changes to the starting XI and the 0-2 reverse was not entirely unexpected. Tonight, in a tie delayed by last Saturday's waterlogged pitch, even with some key players missing, Choules could hardly have expected this. For what became Egham’s heaviest ever home defeat in the FA Vase he was missing leading scorer Anthony Thompson, banned after a dismissal against Southall; Zaine Gangadeen (badly injured in that game); Omar Hassan (not available); and Kiemon Robinson, the mercurial winger who is apparently being courted by one of the sides who more successful than Egham in avoiding relegation from the Isthmian South Central last season.
From the off the Hellenic Premier side, on their first ever visit to Runnymede Stadium, were on top and they took the lead in under a minute as a long throw threw the home defence into disarray and Josh Howell poached the first of a hat-trick. Egham’s response was, well, not much. Halfway through the first half some silliness in defence nearly gave Binfield a second goal, then the blue shirted visitors pushed on again and Howell blasted the ball home from outside the box. Ben Peden had a header cleared off the line after a rare corner, five minutes before the break, and after refreshements (and perhaps a stern word or several) there were glimmers of hope for the home faithful as red shirts attacked with more purpose than before. There was a brief half chance for Prince Mbengui, closed down, and the same player had another opening but squared the ball to Jay O’Connell, who sent the ball high into the night sky. Craige Tomkins fired just wide and Egham over-elaborated after a Luke Maguire free kick. There seemed to be an unwillingness in the Egham players to have a shot; 0-2 down – why not have a go? As it was Binfield keeper Joe Williams had a fairly quiet night. He also set up the third goal, a long punt finding Josh Helmore running in between a static defence and lobbing Triston Thomas. Sarnies had though they had seen the last of their keeper being lobbed when Sam Freeman left the club. The last goal, arising from a needlessly conceded corner, came from Howell’s flick header four minutes from time. O’Connell tried his luck from 20 yards, but missed, as the game petered out. Binfield, more organised all over the pitch, now take on Redhill at home on 2nd November in the Second Round.
Egham’s trip to Raynes Park Vale is followed by a Specsavers Surrey Senior Cup tie away to Sheerwater on Wednesday 23rd and a home CCL Premier meeting with Cobham on 26th October.
EGHAM TOWN: Triston Thomas, Andrew Whorms, Justin Thompson, Ben Peden, Tristan Toney (Captain), Adam Humphries, Jay O’Connell, Prince Mbengui, Craige Tomkins, Luke Maguire, Costa Rodrigues. Substitutes: Jake Sobolak, Amin Belaid (Rodrigues, 58), Tyler John, Lekan Ejinwunmi.