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NORTH GREENFORD UNITED 1 EGHAM TOWN 4
Tempest Ward6 Mar 2022 - 10:22
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Sarnies rise to 3rd with confident performance
CHERRY RED RECORDS COMBINED COUNTIES PREMIER NORTH
SATURDAY 5 MARCH 2022
NORTH GREENFORD UNITED 1 (0)
Joe Mills (47)
EGHAM TOWN 4 (2)
Sandro Costa (37), Trevan Robinson (40), Prince Mbengui (54), Brendan Mathew (57, pen)
Egham Town moved from 5th to 3rd, a season high, with this comprehensive and surprisingly comfortable win against North Greenford United, who dropped from 2nd to 6th. Starting with the same XI that earnt a 1-0 win at home to Windsor in the previous game, Egham were almost ahead in the first minute as Sandro Costa took advantage of some early hesitancy and drilled an angled shot just beyond the far post. Until the halfway point in the first period the home side enjoyed the larger share of possession without forcing anything alarming from Sarnies’ keeper Michael Edegbe. There were signs that Egham were getting hold of the game, the first a header over by skipper Reece Yorke from Adam Humphries’ cross. Four minutes later Egham should have taken the lead as Trevan Robinson turned Sandro Costa’s pass on for Brendan Matthew, who dragged his shot wide from a good position. Down the other end Edegbe had to react when Charlie Mitchell threatened to give Greenford the lead. Suddenly the game sprang into life, Robinson’s 20 yarder held by Sam House in the home goal, as was a similar effort from Matthew. The breakthrough was spectacular, Costa picking the ball up from the edge of the Egham area after a Greenford corner then racing down the middle at speed, outstripping the retreating defenders on a difficult pitch before a wonderfully cool finish. Three minutes later came another classy goal, this time Robinson lobbing House off Prince Mbengui’s astute pass. House did well to keep the score at 0-2 before the break, parrying another Yorke header.
Egham have had a mixed run of results at Berkeley Fields, the slope and slant on the pitch sometimes playing their part. Add cold and dreary weather and at times a lack of confidence and even a two goal lead could be vulnerable. It was, therefore, a cause for concern when The Blues pulled a goal back two minutes after the restart, their best move of the game ending with a powerful finish from Joe Mills. When Mills was fouled soon after, he took the free kick with a pass to Billy Leonard, his ball in being flicked over the bar by Harvey Killeen. The best response would be a third goal for the visitors, which is what happened when Mbengui tested House from Matthew’s ball in. House got in the way, Mbengui had another go and the ball found the net off a deflection. A crude challenge on Costa in the home box did not get the spot kick the foul warranted, but not two minutes later Ryan Phillips was sent sprawling. Matthew took the penalty, which House got to but the ball span up and settled in the back of the net.
One thing Egham have not done particularly well this season is scoring, 18 at home and 25 on the road, but defensively they have been generally sound. This win, which mirrors the one with which they opened the season at Holyport, is only the second four goal haul in the league. However, no-one is complaining. Covid, a stand destroyed, a change of management, the building of a new squad, a record FA Vase run and now in third place – this has been an eventful and successful campaign. Yorke had another header saved by House then the game petered out as Jordan Berry made all five of the permitted substitutions.
Next week Egham go to Enfield Town’s Queen Elizabeth II stadium to face St Panteleimon, who had travelled as unbeaten divisional leaders to Runnymede Stadium on 2 October before Egham won 3-0. Latterly they have had a harder time of it, picking up one point from their last eight games. That does not guarantee the Sarnies notching up a fifth double. Egham’s next home game is on 19 March in a local derby with Spelthorne Sports.
EGHAM TOWN: Michael Edegbe, Samad Kazi, Ryan Phillips, Adam Humphries, Reece Yorke (Captain), Haluna Masembe, Trevan Robinson, Prince Mbengui, Brendan Matthew, Brandon Trujillo, Sandro Costa. Substitutes: Luke Brophy (Costa, 89), Luke Maguire (Robinson, 86), Ezekiel Williams (Humphries, 90+2), Jon-Jo Bates (Mbengui, 84), Jordan Goode-Keeley (Trujillo, 78).
SATURDAY 5 MARCH 2022
NORTH GREENFORD UNITED 1 (0)
Joe Mills (47)
EGHAM TOWN 4 (2)
Sandro Costa (37), Trevan Robinson (40), Prince Mbengui (54), Brendan Mathew (57, pen)
Egham Town moved from 5th to 3rd, a season high, with this comprehensive and surprisingly comfortable win against North Greenford United, who dropped from 2nd to 6th. Starting with the same XI that earnt a 1-0 win at home to Windsor in the previous game, Egham were almost ahead in the first minute as Sandro Costa took advantage of some early hesitancy and drilled an angled shot just beyond the far post. Until the halfway point in the first period the home side enjoyed the larger share of possession without forcing anything alarming from Sarnies’ keeper Michael Edegbe. There were signs that Egham were getting hold of the game, the first a header over by skipper Reece Yorke from Adam Humphries’ cross. Four minutes later Egham should have taken the lead as Trevan Robinson turned Sandro Costa’s pass on for Brendan Matthew, who dragged his shot wide from a good position. Down the other end Edegbe had to react when Charlie Mitchell threatened to give Greenford the lead. Suddenly the game sprang into life, Robinson’s 20 yarder held by Sam House in the home goal, as was a similar effort from Matthew. The breakthrough was spectacular, Costa picking the ball up from the edge of the Egham area after a Greenford corner then racing down the middle at speed, outstripping the retreating defenders on a difficult pitch before a wonderfully cool finish. Three minutes later came another classy goal, this time Robinson lobbing House off Prince Mbengui’s astute pass. House did well to keep the score at 0-2 before the break, parrying another Yorke header.
Egham have had a mixed run of results at Berkeley Fields, the slope and slant on the pitch sometimes playing their part. Add cold and dreary weather and at times a lack of confidence and even a two goal lead could be vulnerable. It was, therefore, a cause for concern when The Blues pulled a goal back two minutes after the restart, their best move of the game ending with a powerful finish from Joe Mills. When Mills was fouled soon after, he took the free kick with a pass to Billy Leonard, his ball in being flicked over the bar by Harvey Killeen. The best response would be a third goal for the visitors, which is what happened when Mbengui tested House from Matthew’s ball in. House got in the way, Mbengui had another go and the ball found the net off a deflection. A crude challenge on Costa in the home box did not get the spot kick the foul warranted, but not two minutes later Ryan Phillips was sent sprawling. Matthew took the penalty, which House got to but the ball span up and settled in the back of the net.
One thing Egham have not done particularly well this season is scoring, 18 at home and 25 on the road, but defensively they have been generally sound. This win, which mirrors the one with which they opened the season at Holyport, is only the second four goal haul in the league. However, no-one is complaining. Covid, a stand destroyed, a change of management, the building of a new squad, a record FA Vase run and now in third place – this has been an eventful and successful campaign. Yorke had another header saved by House then the game petered out as Jordan Berry made all five of the permitted substitutions.
Next week Egham go to Enfield Town’s Queen Elizabeth II stadium to face St Panteleimon, who had travelled as unbeaten divisional leaders to Runnymede Stadium on 2 October before Egham won 3-0. Latterly they have had a harder time of it, picking up one point from their last eight games. That does not guarantee the Sarnies notching up a fifth double. Egham’s next home game is on 19 March in a local derby with Spelthorne Sports.
EGHAM TOWN: Michael Edegbe, Samad Kazi, Ryan Phillips, Adam Humphries, Reece Yorke (Captain), Haluna Masembe, Trevan Robinson, Prince Mbengui, Brendan Matthew, Brandon Trujillo, Sandro Costa. Substitutes: Luke Brophy (Costa, 89), Luke Maguire (Robinson, 86), Ezekiel Williams (Humphries, 90+2), Jon-Jo Bates (Mbengui, 84), Jordan Goode-Keeley (Trujillo, 78).
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