EGHAM TOWN 0 (0) TOOTING & MITCHAM 1 (0)

Egham started their pre-season programme against a Tooting & Mtcham side madue up of a mix of triallists, reserves and first teamers and will be wondering how they lost. With Steve Baker having the luxury of the return of nearly all the players who took Egham to fourth place in last season's CCL Premier Division campaign, the major absentee being keeper Lee Pearce (signed for neighbours Ashford), it was clear in the first half which side had played together before. Weaving elegant patterns through midfield while holding firm against the sporadic forays from the visitors, Egham created good openings but came up against an athletic young keeper whose high note was a full length save from new signing John Pomroy. He had saved previously from Jamie Houghton and Adie Barrance in the second minute and then Matt Grave in the ninth with his feet. In the second half the Londoners introduced some players of evidently higher quality and took control of the ball for longer periods. Eventually they scored, a midfield whippet breaking free to steer home past keeper Tony Oval.

The pleasing thing for the Egham faithful was the return of so many players who have now signed for a third and fourth season, a run of continuity not seen since the early 90s. In addition to Tony Oval the squad comprised the Muldowneys Luke and Charlie, Jake Galbraith (like Charlie safely back from his travels), former Chertsey leading marksman John Pomroy, Tom Martin, Tom Bentley, skipper Wayne Noad, Anthony Oaks, last season's leading scorer Matt Grave, Adie Barrance (who joined, went away and has now, thankfully, come back again), Jamie Houghton, Neerav Patel, Karle Andrews, Michael Carey and the only one I did not recognise, new man Levi King. Adam Foulser is on the mend and was watching. This is, in the main, the squad that earnt not only 4th place last season but also, through that high position, gained us passage into the first round proper of the FA Vase, a competition we don't enter this season until 2 October. This squad should be able to provide an entertaining and interesting campaign in season 2010-2011.

Mark Ferguson