ASHFORD T 2 EGHAM TOWN 2

CALOR LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CENTRAL
MONDAY 19 APRIL 2014
ASHFORD T. (MX.) 2 (0) EGHAM TOWN 2 (0)

Egham Town scorer: Reis Stanislaus 2 (54, 90 + 1 (p))

Just two left and then we can all have a bit of a rest. Anyone who thinks anyone other than Reis Stanislaus as Man of the Match must be on another planet. He gave us the lead from the spot and rescued us from ignominy of losing to the worst side in the division after a performance that shouted “knackered”.
Rumour, speculation, guesswork and wild assumptions accompanied this game, all centred on how its result and that of the other sides at the bottom would affect the relegation issue. All I wanted was an enormous win. What we got was a pretty poor first half and less wretched second that contained all the goals. The loss of Calvin Thomas to a calf niggle saw Josh Andrew promoted from the bench and it was he who had the first chance, three minutes in, but the ball ran away from him and although keeper Tyler Tobin fumbled he got away with it. Thirty five minutes later Andrew was in on a poor goal kick by Tobin, who got hurt as Stanislaus shot. For the home side James Awofisan had had a presentable opportunity in the 16th minute and nearly scored from their next one four minutes from the break, Conor Moody forcing a save from Jamie Norris.
Egham came out looking livelier, Stanislaus missing his shot a minute in after approach work by Jake Galbraith and Marcus Moody. On 53 minutes Egham got the breakthrough they had been seeking when Stanislaus was sent sprawling in the box; he got up and scored the penalty with practised ease. OK, so onwards and upwards and this is the springboard for the Sarnies to win this game. Wrong – on the hour Scott Weight was able to poke home a loose ball when a corner was not cleared. With twenty minutes left Jack Mullan headed across the goal and Weight was close to converting. Five minutes later Mo Harkin’s deep free kick was headed on by Ryan Lake, Tobin again saving from Stanislaus’ reaction shot. In truth Ashford were looking the more cohesive side and Norris had to make a very fine save from Samad Kazi. Unfortunately he was in no man’s land two minutes from time when Weight got his head to a corner, looping the ball over Norris and into an unguarded net. It could have been worse when Awofisan broke free in Ashford’s next attack but shot well over the bar. Just as well; a minute into injury time Stanislaus took the ball from the edge of the box towards goal, beyond a couple of tackles and let fly with shot that took a sharp turn into the roof of the net via a defender’s foot. The call by my friend Gareth Coates on the tannoy that this was an “o.g.” was quickly shouted down. The goal puts Reis on top of the Egham Town scorers’ list and confirms where Egham will finish in this their first season in Calor One Central – 11th. Uxbridge’s 4-1 win against North Greenford United puts them 4 points ahead of Egham, whose +21 goal difference means the 12th placed side, Aylesbury United (-9) requires a 30 goal swing.
Aylesbury Utd face Ashford Town (Mx.) in their last game.
EGHAM TOWN: 1. Jamie Norris 2. Louis Chandler-Joseph 3. Jake Galbraith 4. Ryan Lake (Captain) 5. Jim Ward 6. Mo Harkin 7. Andy Crossley 8. Joe Chandiram 9. Reis Stanislaus 10. Marcus Moody 11. Josh Andrew Subs: 12 Luke Muldowney 14. Brendan Matthew (7/63 mins) 15. Jack McKinlay 16. Ashley Quashie 17. James Brown (8/81).