CHERRY RED RECORDS COMBINED COUNTIES PREMIER NORTH
SATURDAY 25 JANUARY 2025
EGHAM TOWN 3 (2) Harlem Hale (30), Ben Peden (45), Reece Mitchell (59)
BURNHAM 0 (0)

The tussle for supremacy in the Combined Counties Premier North shows no sign of abating. While Egham Town were recording a league double over Burnham, rivals Amersham Town were recovering from the shock of going behind to Virginia Water to win 2-1. There still exists a five point gap that the Sarnies have two games in hand to overtake. This time next week it will be three games in hand, and the likelihood is that they will beat Berks County at home when Egham are facing the altogether more robust challenge of AFC Whyteleafe away in the FA Vase fifth round. Still, as David Bowie once sang, “all you’ve got to do is win”. This success for Egham was relatively straightforward, even after Connor Cullum had a perfectly good goal ruled out five minutes in. Egham were dominant, and skipper Reece Yorke had a low drive hacked clear when the Burnham defence failed to clear a Callum Webb corner. In the 26th minute Conner played in Harlem Hale, whose thunderous shot was diverted over the bar by keeper Archie Cunningham. Egham’s opener had a touch of good fortune about, starting with Ayoub Igozouln’s mishit crossfield pass. As the midfielder slipped, so did full back Kevar March-McKenzie as Hale closed in before racing into the Burnham and steering in his 18th goal of the season. Also on 18 goals is Jabir Laraba, Burnham’s (former Sarnie) chief marksman, who, a minute after Hale scored, managed, from one yard out, to miscue a shot up and away off the underside of Tyler Tobin’s bar. Zakari Otoo picked up a yellow card for illegally blocking a run by Cullum, and from the free kick Ben Peden’s header was going in until Cunningham pulled off another decent save. Minutes later Otoo should have had a second yellow after he was again outpaced by Cullum and pulled him back. As the half was drawing to a close Burnham mounted their most incisive move of the match, utterly wasted when Laraba, three yards out and with the goal gaping, managed to skew his shot wide. Reprieved, Egham doubled their lead with astonishing ease as Webb landed a corner kick on Peden’s head and the centre back crashed home his 11th of the season.
The second half began in lively fashion. Ten seconds after the whistle centre back Joel Ampabeng decided that bringing Hale down just outside the area was the right thing to do, but referee Alfred Finch-Critchley immediately showed him the red card. The resultant free kick was wasted, and Hale was unlucky shortly afterwards when a drive from the edge of the box hit the right post. Just before the hour the visitors were guilty of losing concentration at the back, winger Reece Mitchell pounced, rounded Cunnigham and became the sixth member of Egham squad to get four goals.
AFC Whyteleafe, twice behind at home to lower midtable Alton, won 4-2 to sit on top of CCL Premier South on goals scored, ahead of Redhill.
Egham Town: Tyler Tobin, Callum Webb, Reece Yorke (C), Ayoub Igozouln, Ben Peden, Kyle Watson, Nathanael Boakye, Tyrique Tekasala, Harlem Hale, Reece Mitchell, Connor Cullen. Substitutes: Samad Kazi, Excellence Muhemba, Luke Heneghan, Ronan Hutchins, Jordan Brown.

62' Ronan Hutchins replaced Reece Mitchell
66' Luke Heneghan replaced Nathanael Boakye
72' Excellence Muhemba replaced Harlem Hale
72' Jordan Brown replaced Connor Cullen
74' Samad Kazi replaced Kyle Watson