Eleven Goal Thriller!!!!!

Eleven goals, eight bookings during the ninety minutes, the Egham boss booked after the game or was he dismissed? three penalties and somehow three valuable points for us.

There was absolutely no sign of this to begin with, in what was a good open game but with little or no goal scoring chances and certainly no indication of the kamikaze defending that was to follow. In fact what was most encouraging at the start was that the fluency that we had in our previous game at Banstead was on show again. During the opening exchanges we were in charge of the game territorially and possession wise, and expectations of another win were high as a result, but a match of this nature was as I say completely unexpected.

On the quarter hour we took the lead. A retaken corner, correctly so despite the protests of the Egham staff as an Egham player had clearly ignored the linesman’s instruction to stay away, was swung in by Matt Ellis and Adam Cheadle rose the highest to head home.

Four minutes later and a patient build up saw Baptiste Bogle`s slide rule pass tucked away confidently by Aaron Cole-Bolt for his first goal for the club to double our lead. With confidence now sky high we looked to add to our lead, and for a five minute spell we were first to everything, even missing another gilt edged chance when Oliver Skeete headed wide when it seemed easier to score.

On twenty five minutes a rather harsh foul was awarded against Lloyd Welsh and from the free kick we failed to defend as well as we should at the back post, and the header back across goal was tucked away by John Pomroy to reduce our lead. Within a minute and without having re organised, or so it seemed, the scores were level, the unmarked Graves slotting home coolly. Just two minutes later and the game was turned on its head, a speculative long range effort from Pomroy finding the top corner to give the visitors the lead. With the enquiries ongoing and the back three in dis array, Egham attacked at will, and the only surprise as half time approached is that the score hadn’t changed.

As the half time team talks were being finalised by the staff, a further twist. Lloyd Welsh fouling Matt Graves for a penalty that was converted to give Egham a four two lead. The Egham protests at Lloyd staying on, limited, as clearly they felt a two-goal lead was enough.
At the start of the second half Egham looked the most likely to score again. One missed opportunity ten minutes in, was a real let off, and this seemed to raise our hopes.

On the hour, Reece Jackson spectacularly volleyed a half headed clearance from a Cole-Bolt corner home for the pick of the goals, and suddenly we were back in it. Two minutes later and it was four each, Daniel Bennett converting a penalty after his own mazy run had been illegally halted.

With Egham now looking deflated it appeared that the game was there for our taking, but such was the nature of the game no body was totally surprised when they re took the lead. A magnificent cross-field pass eluding the last line of our defence and a final ball and finish of the highest order.
It was again a case of who knows what will happen next. Twenty minutes still to go and already nine goals and defensive frailties at both ends. With fifteen minutes to go and a second penalty was awarded to us for a foul on Cheadle. Again considerable protests from the Egham staff and players, but Bennett remained calm to convert again to bring the scores level.
So into the last ten minutes and still no sign of defensive improvement and both sides to their absolute credit trying to win.

Thankfully the defining moment went our way, a twenty-five yard drive from Aaron Cole- Bolt finding the bottom corner for his second, our sixth and most importantly the winner in an enthralling game that made little sense but was a spectacle to say the least. Although the scoring was complete a last minute chance carved out by Zak Graham was somehow missed by debutant Gavin Quintyne to keep the result in doubt, but the whistle followed shortly after to see us home.

Whilst the game was done the entertainment continued, with the Egham manager , who will surely be brought to task , voicing his displeasure at the performance of the three officials.