Mole Valley SCR 0 Egham Town 4

CCL PREMIER DIVISION SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2012
MOLE VALLEY SCR 0 (0) EGHAM TOWN 4 (0)
Egham Town scorers: Dale Marvell (62), Luke Muldowney (68), Matt Grave (90), Jamie Houghton (90+3)

Egham Town managed a triple over CCL Premier basement team Mole Valley SCR, prior to tackling Guernsey, the side favourite to replace them next season, but only after a remarkable second half transformation. In August, in the League (4-2) and September, in the Vase (3-2), Egham had overcome MVSCR after awkward tussles, and it was no different this time round. Following on from the wastefulness of the home loss against Raynes Park Vale the Sarnies were, frankly, exceedingly poor for too much of a first half in which they were slow in getting the ball forward, misplaced too many passes and in the opening minutes conceded some needless free kicks from which a better side could/would have gained advantage. The home side had the first decent shot on target, 20 minutes in, Arnold Okrior forcing Paul Borg to tip the ball over. Slowly Egham managed to get some kind of grip on the game, Luke Muldowney, Matt Grave and Tom Hedges (a former Valley man) all seeing shots saved by Leigh Bowden in quick succession. Egham, now able to field Ken During and skipper Aarron Taylor-Ives in the middle of defence for the first time since before Christmas, made sure Matt Harmsworth was forced wide from a decent shooting position and it was Egham who finished the half the stronger. After a fierce shot from Marvell, well saved by Bowden, Hedges steered the rebound on target but Luke Harmsworth reacted smartly to divert the ball away for a corner.
With the second half two minutes old Valley's James Brown was lucky not only that his two footed lunge on his erstwhile team mate Hedges failed to connect but also that referee Gavin Collins chose to do nothing, apart from awarding Egham a free kick, by way of punishment. I thought “intent” was part of the decision process, and there seemed little room for doubt about that, especially as the two hadn't exactly been exchanging hugs and kisses beforehand. Enrico Rossoni sidestepped a challenge by Mark Toomey-Layne before drilling in a cross that beat everyone; it was looking as if nothing was going to go right. Then, just past the hour, Grave was fouled 25 yards out and Marvell hammered in an unstoppable free kick into the top left corner. Seven minutes later another foul by the home side led to another Marvell free kick, this one beating all but Muldowney, unmarked at the back post for a straightforward finish. That all but guaranteed the points, and Hedges nearly got the goal he wanted with a shot that Bowden did well to turn aside. Okrior forced another save from Borg after 83 minutes but Egham were now determined to end the game on a high. Finding in their play some of the speed of thought and movement that has served them so well in this campaign they upped the tempo and scored a marvellous third. Houghton won the ball in midfield and advanced ten yards before releasing the perfect pass for Grave to take the ball into the area, where he took his time, weighed up his options and then rifled the ball beyond Bowden's dive. The maker and scorer combined again with three minutes of injury time played, Houghton again the spark, but this time they played a one-two down the inside right channel with Grave delivering a cross almost as exquisite as Houghton's finish from six yards with the outside of his outstretched right boot.
With Camberley Town losing 0-1 at Horley Town this win at Cobham's Leg O'Mutton ground puts Egham back in third place. Egham were missing Charlie Muldowney, Lee Pasmore and Paul Bartholomew, which explained the rare sight of Wayne Noad's name on the submitted team list.
Egham face Guernsey on Tuesday in the EL Records Premier Challenge Trophy Third Round, with a trip to Ashford Town's Robert Parker Stadium for a match against tenants Staines Lammas the reward for the victors.

EGHAM TOWN: Paul Borg, Dan Hartlebury, Jake Galbraith, Aarron Taylor-Ives, Ken During, Luke Muldowney, Jamie Houghton, Enrico Rossoni, Dale Marvell, Matt Grave, Tom Hedges. Subs: Brendan Matthew (Rossoni, 78), Tom Brunton (Marvell, 68), Wayne Noad, Josh Henry.