As if last week’s dropping of points at Holyport against nine men was not baffling enough, today Egham managed to miss another opportunity to pick up three points while facing a side depleted in personnel.
Hopes were high with Danny Campion making his long-awaited first appearance for the Sarnies this season after an extended hiatus following a Sunday team disciplinary matter. Wallingford & Crowmarsh, winless, second from bottom, and with the worst goal difference in the division, had lost 1-2 to Egham on 27 August but were a more organised side today. They had a sixth minute appeal for a penalty, a ludicrous dive by Caelon Isaac, turned down moments before Egham midfielder Kyle Brooks saw his shot saved by Sam Baldock. Campion was looking lively and gave Egham the kind of forward drive that has been only intermittent in his absence. He was able to fire in shots that tested Baldock, keeping the pressure as Egham looked as if they would soon open the scoring. Home skipper Reece Yorke forced another stop from Baldock with a shot on the turn. In the 23rd minute Adam Humphries ran onto to a Yorke pass, played the ball back to captain, who slung in a high ball and from a defensive header Campion was unlucky with a shot that hit the right post. Excellence Muhemba shot over the bar before his shot from the edge of the box was stopped by the busy visiting keeper. Then came, as at Holyport, an incident that changed the pitch of the game. There was a bit of an altercation in front of the main stand and Ty Hamilton was shown a straight red for an aggressive action on Egham left back Kyle Watson. From then, 12 minutes before the break, to deep in the second half, Egham posed nowhere near as much of a threat on Baldock’s goal. Indeed, Ollie Creed found a gap for a shot from the edge of the box, calling home stopper Lewis Gallifent into his first significant action and Gallifent then had to turn a Bradley Walton shot from similar range over the bar.
With the introduction of the speedy Brandon Trujillo for David Lopes (quick, hardworking and luckless) early in the second half, and the pace of Muhemba and Campion, against ten men, it was to be hoped that W & C would tire, leaving exploitable gaps in their defence. Instead, on the hour, Samad Kazi was involved in a race with Isaac, who, for once, might have had a case for a foul as he tumbled in the box. Kazi was cautioned, and Jack McLoughlin took the sort of penalty kick that might tonight disturb his sleep after he slammed the ball into the trees at the Jungle End. For the rest of the match Egham had most of the possession, albeit while still looking, as they have in most games this season, like an orchestra in need of a conductor. Trujillo, then Tom Neale (replacing Kazi), tried free kicks that did not quite work, and referee Daniel Whale upped his workload as he flashed his yellow card at both sides. Two minutes from time Egham should have had the breakthrough they needed as Neale and Campion combined before Yorke headed the ball across goal for Campion to touch the ball home. Offside, said the assistant referee. Not offside said the Wallingford & Crowmarsh keeper, sportingly. Seventh place says the table.
Wembley visit next Saturday, and Jordan Berry may well be hoping that they manage to keep a full complement of players on the pitch because his side do seem to be having some issues with managing a head count advantage. The Londoners are in sixth place, having lost at home in the FA Vase to London Samurai Rovers from CCL One.
Egham have a friendly on Tuesday at Uxbridge, kick off 7.45. On 8 October they visit Reading City.
EGHAM TOWN: Lewis Gallifent, Samad Kazi, Kyle Watson, Adam Humphries, Reece Yorke (Skipper), Haluna Masembe, Kyle Brooks, Stefan Powell, Danny Campion, Excellence Muhemba, David Lopes. Substitutes: Brandon Trujillo (Lopes, 53), Tristan Vernal Francois, Tom Neale (Kazi, 68), James Feehan (Watson, 79), Jordan Goode-Keeley (Powell, 84).