Sarnies 1 Royston Town 2

CALOR LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CENTRAL
SATURDAY 17 AUGUST 2013
EGHAM TOWN 1 (0) ROYSTON TOWN 2 (3)
Egham Town scorer: Jim Ward (86)

Egham Town’s debut in Calor One Central did not go to plan, but it did give some clues as to what will be needed for this to be a successful season. A nervous start did them no favours and they were two adrift after only 20 minutes, both scored by Rob Mason. Before the first goal went in, after ten minutes, Luke Craig’s low cross inside the Royston area just needed a colleague’s touch for an early lead, but such chances were rare. A 10th minute run down the Egham left and a cross by Ryan Ingrey gave Mason room for a header that beat Gary Ross in the Sarnies’ goal. The response was muted, only Andy Crossley’s effort, after he had wriggled into an angled shooting position, testing George Lawton in the visitors goal. The Hertfordshire side doubled their advantage after 20 minutes when Ade Cambridge’s deep free kick was perfectly placed for Mason to score from close range. This time the Egham response carried more threat, Reis Stanislaus heading in a Crossley cross but the score was chalked off for referee Ernie Moore said was a foul on Lawton. Two minutes later Stanislaus and Lawton came together, both went to ground, Lawton held the Egham striker and Mr Moore gave Lawton the free kick. The visitors should have taken a three goal lead with a minute left of the half, Mason squaring the ball for Michael Bryant, who skewed his shot onto Ross’ left post. Joshua Andrew tried something different for Egham with a direct run into the heart of the Royston defence, one of whom, Joe De La Salle, went unpunished for chopping him down just outside the box.
Five minutes into the second half Jacob Lambe hit the Royston crossbar with a 25 yard shot, setting off a lively start that saw Mason pull his shot as he went for his hat-trick and Bryant flatten Crossley. Luke Craig gave way to last season’s top marksman, Jamie Read on 59 minutes. Royston seemed to take delight in seeing Egham players in a horizontal position, Crossley the next beneficiary courtesy of Bryant. Then De La Salle collected the yellow card he should have had earlier for a foul on Stanislaus. As Egham lined up the free kick Mason fouled Lambe in the box and got away with it. This is perhaps one lesson Egham need to learn. Stanislaus stood up a great chance for Read, whose header went narrowly over and from Crossley’s pass Stanislaus then saw his header clip the bar. With a quarter of an hour left Mason found space to run into the Egham box and some referees might have seen Ross’s foul on him in a different light. Mason drilled the spot kick wide of the right post. On the break Read flicked the ball on for Brendan Matthew, on for Lambe, but the young striker shot over. Ten minutes remained when Egham went down to ten men, Stanislaus’ foul on Lewis Endacott resulting in a second yellow, the striker having picked up a 37th minute caution for dissent. Mason missed another chance for his hat-trick after approach play by Cambridge and Jack Bradshaw. Finally Egham got something for their efforts when Jamie Houghton’s corner was met at the back post by Jim Ward’s diving header, the flag kick having been won by Matthew’s determined run. Royston added to their card collection with Ryan Lockett’s foul on Patrick Craig. The free kick led to a chance for Read, whose shot on the turn was turned away at close range by Lawton. The match ended shortly after yet another card for Royston, Bryant flooring Joshua Andrew.
The physicality of the visitors probably came as a culture shock. In the pre-season friendlies against Godalming Town and Guildford City, both from Calor One South & West, the speed of the play initially threatened to derail Lee Passmore’s men, but Egham recorded a 1-1 draw and a 4-1 win respectively. Royston were not that quick but they clearly don’t intend going for any Fair Play awards this season. Egham face a short trip up the M40 on Monday to play Beaconsfield SYCOB, and go to Aylesbury on Saturday ahead of the Bank Holiday Monday home derby against Chertsey Town. The initial table has Egham in 16th place, which is pretty meaningless. Nine wins and two draws in the opening round – that’s nine sides determined to get it right midweek.
Egham Town: Gary Ross, Joshua Andrew, Jake Galbraith, Richie Byrne, Jim Ward, Luke Muldowney, Patrick Craig, Andy Crossley, Reis Stanislaus, Jacob Lambe, Luke Craig. Subs: James Houghton (Crossley, 71), Joel Jacobs, Brendan Matthew (Lambe, 71 ), Jamie Read (Luke Craig, 59 ), Chris Ellis.

Calor League Division One Central 17.8.13
AFC Hayes 3 1 Aylesbury, Aylesbury United 0 2 Rugby Town, Barton Rovers 1 1 Uxbridge, Daventry Town 5 2 Ashford Town (Mx), Dunstable Town 2 3 Beaconsfield SYCOB, Egham Town 1 2 Royston Town, Marlow 0 0 Leighton Town, North Greenford United 0 2 Chalfont St Peter, Potters Bar Town 2 0 Kettering Town, Slough Town 0 1 Northwood, St Ives Town 2 1 Chertsey Town

Calor League Division One Central 20.8.13

7.45pm Ashford T (Mx) v AFC Hayes
7.45pm Aylesbury v Daventry Town
7.45pm Chalfont St P v Aylesbury United
7.45pm Chertsey Town v Marlow
7.45pm Kettering Town v Barton Rovers
7.45pm Leighton Town v St Ives Town
7.45pm Northwood v Dunstable Town
7.45pm Royston Town v North Greenford United
7.45pm Rugby Town v Potters Bar Town
7.45pm Uxbridge v Slough Town

Mark