EGHAM TOWN 6 (1) ASH UNITED 0 (0)

The entertainment continues – including the 1-3 FA Cup loss to Guildford City, Egham Town have scored and conceded a spectacular 30 goals in five games. They take that form to Hanworth Villa for the August Bank Holiday local derby, but will have to replicate their second half performance, rather than the first, to leave there with all three points.  Ash had major problems  with their team, after what seems to have been a massive walkout. They were signing players up to the last minute, and had just one sub on the bench. They did have Arjuna Adlam in goal, their keeper for the last few seasons, but he was left sadly exposed as the home side ran riot through a disintegrating defence. Egham were pretty awful in the first half, starting with Adam Foulser’s booking in the third minute, and Tom Martin’s pull back across the box evading John Pomroy and Charlie Muldowney. Neil Downes forced a superb save from Egham keeper Justin Gray, who otherwise wasn’t particularly troubled by the Ash front line. Egham were getting to grips with facing a scratch side, though, and the lead they took from Luke Muldowney’s instinctive shot on the turn in the 36^th minute. Three minutes later a Pomroy 20 yarder hit Adlam’s bar.

In the first 4 minutes of the second half Ash managed to get three booked, and force Adlam into a good save from Foulser. Seven minutes into the second half Egham doubled their lead, Nathan Blanks’ excellent cross to Matt Grave room to shoot. Adlam showed his prowess again with a decent save, Charlie Muldowney shot off the rebound, and after another fine stop the ball was finally drilled in from close range by Pomroy. An excellent tackle by Blanks on Mukabba prevented Ash from threatening the home goal. Full back Jay Hardwick was replaced by Anthony Oaks, shortly after Pomroy had seen a close range shot blocked by fellow striker Muldowney. Egham then blitzed the visitors with four goals in 18 minutes. Grave rolled in a perfect pass for Pomroy to blast the ball home, then, after Foulser had been replaced by Kian Siabi and Blanks by Jake Galbraith, and having seen Martin and Galbraith deny Matt Morris, Grave raced down the middle of the park, drawing in a defence that forgot to mark Charlie Muldowney. He took full advantage, and rolled in an exquisite side footed finish for 4-0. The best goal of the game came from sub Siabi, an instant and thrilling wallop as the ball bounced clear off a defender’s tackle on Pomroy, the ball arcing wide of Adlam’s dive. Grave made it six with another powerful shot, just before the end.