CHERRY RED RECORDS COMBINED COUNTIES PREMIER NORTH
SATURDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2024
EGHAM TOWN 3 (2) Zac Hawker (19), Ben Peden (23), Connor Cullen (90 + 7)
MILTON UNITED 0 (0)

Egham Town extended their unbeaten league run to fifteen with a good win against ninth-placed Milton United, and maintained a two point lead over Amersham Town. Milton recently beat Amersham 4-1, but it was Egham taking the initiative with some hardworking pressure on their Oxfordshire opponents.
The first chance fell to Harlem Hale, whose shot on the turn was well saved in the 16th minute by keeper Timmy Mungall. Barely two minutes later, Egham went ahead. A foul by Seth Humphries on Tyrique Tekasala gave Zac Hawker the chance to show Luke Heneghan, the usual dead ball specialist who was on the bench, that he too could deliver with a free kick, his 22 yarder rising then dipping into the bottom right corner of the Milton goal. Barely four minutes later Hawker delivered an exquisite corner kick for Ben Peden to rise in the box and send a magnificent header into the net. Peden, already the leading scorer on seven goals, thus increased his tally, which is not bad for a right back. This, a classic example of a centre-forward’s finish, was his best yet.
So far so easy, but Milton were not about to give up, and echoes of Egham’s own encounter with Amersham came back as the Sarnies were pushed back. Egham drew 2-2 at Runnymede Stadium, having gone 2-0 ahead, against an Amersham side who were level by the break. Milton got their passing game working, and had the ball in the net after 35 minutes. Referee Nigel Owen consulted with his assistant, and Egham breathed a sigh of relief when the effort was ruled offside. That did not shake the visitors, who then had a penalty awarded after a foul in the home box. Louie Joyce took the kick, Tyler Tobin saved it, and from the rebound did magnificently well to save again with his feet.
For the second Saturday running Egham, facing another decent side, held a 2-0 half-time lead but needed to be resolute in defending it. Milton prodded and poked at the home defence, but not quite finding a weakness on which to capitalise. They did come close with ten minutes left, a corner leading to a bout of head tennis which saw the ball ping off Tobin’s crossbar. Jordan Berry, the Egham Town manager, made several changes to stiffen up midfield and rotate the strikers. Sometimes substitutions work, sometimes not, but in the 97th minute Josh Williams found space down the right and found Connor Cullen. A trap, a spin and a low drive and the third goal was netted, making Egham Town the first in either CCL Premier divisions to reach the 50 goal mark.
It does not get any easier for Mr Berry and his men. Next week sees the first return match of the season as the side travel to 4th placed Holyport. The sides played out a goalless draw that Egham might have won. Then comes another away game, at Amersham Town, which could be pivotal. Amersham are currently second, two points behind Egham but with a game in hand. Form says that they should prevail this Tuesday at home to British Airways, overtaking Egham at the top. On 23rd November Amersham travel to third placed North Greenford United.
Egham Town’s next home game is on Tuesday 3 December against Hilltop. On 7 December the Sarnies face the long haul to the bit between Ashford and Sunbury to play Spelthorne Sports in the Isuzu FA Vase third round.
EGHAM TOWN: Tyler Tobin, Ben Peden, Callum Webb, Samad Kazi, Reece Yorke (Captain), Zac Hawker, Ayoub Igozouln, Tyrique Tekasala, Ronan Hutchins, Harlem Hale, Jordan Brown.
Substitutes: Alex Nolan, Marley Anderson-Richards (Igozouln, 77), Josh Williams (Hale, 77), Luke Heneghan (Brown, 66), Connor Cullen (Hutchins, 57).