Chessington & Hook United 3 vs 8 Egham Town

Accepting that there are one or two injury issues, that in itself cannot be used as an excuse for the lack of effort being shown.
A reasonable start by both sides suggested an open attacking game but a repeat of last years eleven goals seemed unlikely given that at the quarter hour it was goalless.

Shortly after howeve,r a slight mix up at the back followed by a lack of marking gifted a simple finish to the handily placed forward who must have been stunned at the space afforded to him six yards out and in the centre of our goal.

One became two five minutes late,r when slack marking from a free kick saw us punished again and in fairness the writing was on the wall.
Time and again we were second to the ball and it was an unexpected boost to our chances when a correctly awarded penalty gave us a lifeline.

Kyle Green making his first start of the season confidently dispatched the penalty to reduce the deficit.

As seems commonplace at the moment, having got back into the game we conceded again shortly after, when a poor clearance and a lack of pressure on the ball combined to give an opportunity to the Egham forward whose finish was to be applauded.

Under increasing pressure we somehow avoided falling further behind, and then built on a relatively quiet phase of the game with another goal to get us back within touching distance. This time good work down our right saw Zak Graham finish well from Matt Ellis’s set.

At the break we were still just about in it, but the overriding feeling was that we would need to heavily outscore Egham to get anything from the match.

The opening to the second half was arguably the best part of the game for us with our visitors penned back and being asked more of themselves defensively than at any point. However we were still far from fluent and the next goal was always going to prove decisive. It fell to Egham when again following a standard build up and cross into our box, our marking was non existent and midfielder Jamie Houghton was given the freedom of the area to volley home.

This time there was no reaction, at least not a positive one. Players almost to a man, (there were exceptions), turned there attentions elsewhere and Egham were able to score at will.

The fifth came when we were outnumbered at the back with two egham midfielders finding space in our box and the impressive Moody finishing coolly, the sixth a long range strike into an empty net following a miscued clearance from Mark Daniels and the seventh from the penalty spot in stoppage time.

Camberley all over again was a distinct possibility as there was at least three minutes more to play, and in keeping with the night and last years eleven goals there were two more to come.

Firstly Kyle Green scored his second of the night with a fine finish to go with his control and turn on the edge of the box, thus ensuring a slightly more favourable result than against Camberley, and he certainly could feel happy with his contribution.

But there was still time for our frailties that were evident all night to be highlighted again, when in the final minute we were caught wanting with poor marking and anticipation allowing another simple finish.

More misery and unfortunately no sign of change.