Egham Town made it four games unbeaten since losing in the FA Cup, and recorded their first clean sheet since last season’s 2-0 win at Northwood. In an echo of that fateful campaign the Sarnies are now on their third keeper of the season but this time seem to have found a “keeper”. Tristan Thomas signed from Amersham and would not have been happy had Golding’s second minute speculative effort done more than hit his bar. On a well prepared pitch that sloped and tilted Egham found their feet and had the home side back pedalling, leading scorer Anthony Thomas coming close three times and Jay O’Connell scuffing a decent opening. Luke Maguire, with three goals in his two Sarnies’ appearances, came closest to opening the scoring as he took a clever pass from Justin Thompson before pummelling the ball goalward. Holmesdale keeper Edwards had to leap to his right to keep the shot out.
Golding’s free kick five minutes into the second period forced the new Egham custodian to block. Just past the hour Ben Peden ventured up from visitors’ back line and, from Anthony Thomas’ pass, almost managed to lift the ball over Edwards. Egham took the lead after 71 minutes. Craige Tomkins had been with Egham for a short time a couple of seasons ago before returning to Uxbridge. He played and scored for Egham in pre-season, converting a free kick in the win against Westfield. Since then he has played a couple of times for Combined Counties League Division One side Kensington & Ealing Borough, scoring twice. Today he came on at half time for Omar Hassan and was the one with the sharpness to nip in front of Edwards and flick home a Thompson cross. Egham saw out the rest of the game relatively comfortably, and will be in Monday’s draw for the next round, to be played on 12 October. They were due to be at home to Badshot Lea in the CCL Premier, but as they also won (4-2 at Cobham) the league game would have been off anyway. Of course, it could be an FA Vase tie…
On Saturday Egham travel to CB Hounslow United in CCL Premier, then on 24 September are at home to Raynes Park Vale in the Cherry Red Records Premier Challenge Cup First Round, and follow that with a home game against Sheerwater on 28 September.
EGHAM TOWN: Tristan Thomas, Adam Humphries, Justin Thompson, Ben Peden, Tristan Toney, Luke Maguire, Jay O’Connell, Prince Mbengui, Anthony Thomas, Omar Hassan, Connor Channon. Substitutes: Lekan Ejinwunmi, Jake Sobolak (O’Connell, 90), Craige Tomkins (Hassan, HT), Kildane Tesfu, Zaine Gangadeen (Channon, 62).