EGHAM TOWN 3 WARE 2

EVO-STIK SOUTHERN DIVISION ONE CENTRAL
TUESDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2016
EGHAM TOWN 3 (0) WARE 2 (2)
Brendan Matthew (58), Jake Cass (72), Luke Neville (85)
Kieran Bishop (36), Dernell Wynter (40)

Once again Egham Town demonstrated the benefits of patience and in so doing re-established their promotion credentials. A magnificent second half performance against a very spirited and talented Ware side saw the Sarnies finish the night in third place with games in hand over all other contenders.
The home side had to call in goalkeeper James Redding to deputise for Jamie Norris, who had been taken ill. With two 1-0 away wins behind them, both with very late goals, confidence was high against a side who had not been to the Runnymede Stadium in ten seasons and whose only win at Egham was ten years prior to that (on this scribe’s 36th birthday, no less). The winning score that day was 2-0 to the Hertfordshire outfit, a scoreline that faced Egham at half time tonight, and it was deserved. Even with the hassle of arriving very late due to horrendous traffic problems on the M25 the visitors were quicker to the ball, played some very attractive attacking football, and in winning three corners in the opening quarter of an hour were showing their determination to bridge the gap between their 11th place and Egham’s 5th. This happened to Gary Meakin’s side in the last home game, against Barton Rovers, and Egham failed to respond and went down 0-2. Away to Leighton Town and Potters Bar Town both home sides did the same, but Egham have the meanest defence in the division and were able, for the most part, to keep the opposition forwards at arm’s length. Ware were a bit different, and perhaps the change of goalkeeper (who actually did nothing wrong all night) played some part in a somewhat nervy display that saw Kieran Bishop take advantage of some hesitancy when Dernell Wynter crossed from the right and Kieran Bishop was allowed time and room to put Ware 1-0 up. That was in the 36th minute and four minutes later Wynter, on the Ware left this time, curled a magnificent shot into the top right hand corner of Redding’s net. Egham had not mustered much before the first goal, the best moments coming when Kurtney Brooks found Brendan Matthew who set off on a run from the halfway line only for Ryan Hervel to deny him room for a shot, and Egham’s leading scorer being denied after a lovely flick by Bajram Pashaj.
In the boardroom at half time I think it is safe to say that Ware’s representatives were confident of a win. Having drawn and won their last two games to end a run of seven straight defeats, they had every right to think that way. On the pitch Elliott Carey was replaced by Ryan Parsons at half time, some reshuffling was done and a different Egham were on show. In the first minute Matthew won a corner, and in the fourth another flag kick was not cleared and skipper Luke Neville sidefooted just past the post. Midfielders Brooks and Wes Daly had shots blocked and Ware could not get out of their half. Finally the breakthrough came when Ryan Phillips crossed from the left and Matthew rose to head the ball, which clipped the bottom of the inside of the right post, rolled on then over the line, the spun back onto the inside of the left post. It was a personal landmark for Matthew, taking his tally to 19 and in so doing overhauling his total in season 2012-13 when the Sarnies won the Combined Counties League. It also gave him his first goal in 2016, his last being the winner at promotion favourites AFC Rushden & Diamonds on 22 December.
Ware were now finding all routes forward blocked, and the Sarnies were in the ascendant. Halfway through the second half manager Meakin made the crucial change of taking off Brooks and introducing Jake Cass. Four minutes later the powerful midfielder with thunder in his boots leathered a perfect cross from Phillips past Ware keeper Tom Spenser from 10 yards, the power and accuracy of the shot prompting the question of why he does not do this more often. The last time such a shot hit the back of the net was in the 7-0 demolition of Arlesey, four months ago. [Ed. Yes, I know he scored against NGU but that was with a thumping header.] You see, the next time he did it, with five minutes of regulation time left, Spenser had to pull off a fine save, pushing the ball away to his left. The ball was not cleared and some hero, I don’t know who, whipped in a perfect cross for centre back, captain and “what the hell is he doing there” question prompter to rise up six yards out and head home the winner. All Egham had to do was be calm, which they managed, and not to make any silly errors, which was also achieved. The last moment of note featured Mr Redding timing an intervention perfectly as Ware made their last push before referee Jim Paterson ended the match.
EGHAM TOWN: James Redding, Elliott Carey, Ryan Phillips, Reece Yorke, Luke Neville (Captain), Kurtney Brooks, Callum Webb, Wes Daly, Brendan Matthew, Bajram Pashaj, Chris Henry. Substitutes: Ryan Parsons (Carey, HT), Ollie Jones (Webb, 75), Jake Cass (Brooks, 68), Ryan De Battista, James Charles.