This was the fifth Egham Town win on the spin. The report I sent last week could be misinterpreted, unlike this result, with a scoreline as emphatic as the performance deserved. In August it was Burnham who prevailed by 3-0, their passing and movement leaving the Sarnies first half performance a distant memory. Then Burnham did not win a league game for three months, and Egham did not lose a league game for three months.
Egham Town boss Jordan Berry, who became a dad during the week, was able to celebrate as his team ripped into the visitors and were ahead as early as the 6th minute. Sandro Costa was a good 30 yards from goal before he raced in to the box where Luke Wayborn sent him clattering to the ground. Costa needed treatment from physio Vicky Stewart, giving penalty taker Brendan Matthew time to consider his options, having had a spot kick saved last week against Spelthorne Sports. This was his fifth spot kick in that five match winning streak, and while the kick may not have been the best of the bunch it still whistled past keeper Callum Coulter. Another penetrating run by Costa ended with Adam Humphries just wide of the mark with a lob, then Egham doubled the lead with skipper Reece Yorke’s 6th goal of the season. Luke Brophy, back in the starting line-up, curled in a free kick, the Burnham defence were left flatfooted as it bounced and Yorke skilfully fired the ball home with a thumping half volley on the turn. Costa was causing Burnham all kinds of problems and was only denied a goal as he ran in off a misguided defensive header by Coulter’s brave save at the feet of the Egham winger. In the 26th minute a foul on Matthew left him on the ground, the visitors broke, Kane Guy-Steifert shot, and keeper Michael Edegbe saved with his team mate still needing treatment. Rhys Harper wasted the best opportunity for Burnham to claw one back, but the Sarnies have the second best home defensive record in the CCL Premier North and were not keen to let that slip.
Trevan Robinson had a couple of attempts at finishing his eye-catching surges down the right with a goal but was off target both times.
Without feeling particularly threatened, Egham needed a third goal. Halfway through the second period Tayd Ajayi hit the side netting with a close range shot that was enough to serve as a warning not to get complacent. There is a good deal of quiet efficiency at the back for Egham, Haluna Masembe’s calm clearing up of a Burnham threat with two solid tackles a key example. He also spotted an opportunity for Matthew to get behind the visiting defence with a perfect long pass. Coulter raced out, fouled Matthew and picked up only a yellow. Ezekiel Williams’ free kick was disappointing. Robinson was replaced by Luke Maguire, who, soon after coming on, set up the third goal. As he and the ever-impressive Samad Kazi worked out who was going to use the ball on the left wing, Maguire took control and fed the ball through to Matthew. The Egham marksman’s determination, aided by some woeful inept defending, saw him walk the ball past Coulter and into the Jungle End net. Six minutes from time Burnham substitute Dwayne Clarke forced Edegbe to save with his feet. It would have been nice to see Egham score four at home in the league for the first time this season but Costa saw an injury time shot deflected for a corner kick as Egham ended in the ascendancy.
Egham are now third again, level on points with Southall. Ashford’s tenants had lost to a late goal against Hanworth Villa on Tuesday. Villa are now Champions, so we must send our congratulations to them. Dropping only six points in 30 unbeaten games is a remarkable feat. Southall have two games in hand over Egham, and a better goal difference. They visit Runnymede Stadium on Tuesday. Egham will first have to play Virginia Water at Windsor’s Stag Meadow ground on Saturday. After the Southall game Egham entertain Wokingham & Emmbrook.
EGHAM TOWN: Michael Edegbe, Samad Kazi, Luke Brophy, Jordan Goode-Keeley, Reece Yorke, Haluna Masembe, Trevan Robinson, Adam Humphries, Brendan Matthew, Brandon Trujillo, Sandro Costa. Substitutes: Ryan Phillips, Radu Stefanoiaca (Matthew, 80), Dan Brown, (Humphries, 73), Ezekiel Williams (Trujillo, 53), Luke Maguire (Robinson, 78).