CHERRY RED RECORDS COMBINED COUNTIES PREMIER NORTH
SATURDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2024
HAREFIELD UNITED 1 (1)
JAYDE CROTTY (30)
EGHAM TOWN 3 (3)
LUKE HENEGHAN (6), MARLEY ANDERSON-RICHARDS (25), SAMAD KAZI (39)

Egham Town manager Jordan Berry flexed his dialling finger this week to call in new faces to bolster a squad hit by injuries and unavailability. With Alex Nolan, Montel Brown, Reece Mitchell, Kristian Swaby, Harlem Hale and Zac Hawker all unselectable for various reasons, Berry called on his contacts at Northwood and Chesham United, and landed three excellent additions in Bradley Clayton and Ronan Hutchins, who started, and Joshua Willilams, who played the last quarter of an entertaining match. One fact that came as a shock and surprise is that forward Mitchell has been playing with a broken collarbone.
Harefield, under the management of former Sarnie Wayne Carter, have had a decent start to the season, including two remarkable results against Isthmian Premier leaders Lewes in the FA Cup. After a 1-1 draw away, at home the Middlesex side won 4-2 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes. Lewes had won all five previous games. Harefield lost 0-1 against another Sussex side, Hastings United, in the next round.
Perhaps this was the comedown. Egham looked resplendent in their brand new light blue away kit, and just six minutes in took the lead. Hares’ defence was cut open by Hutchins and Jordan Brown, and Luke Heneghan easily slid the ball past keeper Tom Clark. Egham had a scare when the referee thought that Tyler Tobin had caught a forward pass outside the box, but after discussion with his assistant he changed his mind. Determined pressure brought the second goal, Heneghan and Hutchins linking well and forcing a corner. Heneghan swung the ball in, and for the second game running it was Marley Anderson-Richards who scored after a scramble on the goal line. That mirrored what happened on Tuesday at home against Amersham Town, as did the concession of a similarly messy goal. Jayde Crotty was the scorer of the Hares’ goal, turning the ball in past Tobin, following Armando Costa’s free kick. The difference here was that Egham managed to bag a third goal, as Samad Kazi dived in bravely at the back post to head in an absolutely fabulous cross by Ben Peden. Heneghan’s 30 yard lob attempt over Clark beat both bar and keeper.
Four minutes into the second half there was a delay in proceedings after a foul by Egham skipper Reece Yorke that somehow ended up with another former Sarnie, Luke Brophy, being sin-binned. Egham looked to press home the advantage, Clayton squaring the ball for Jordan Brown, who cleverly dummied, giving Tyrique Tekasala room for a shot that Clark turned away. Seconds later Clayton saw a free kick clip Harefield’s bar. The home side tried to pull at least a goal back, but Kyle Watson and Tobin did well to close down a chance for Crotty.
Egham finished off the second half exercise in game management comfortably enough. On Wednesday they travel to Wokingham Town for a League Cup First Round tie, and, having risen to second place, entertain third placed Ardley United on Saturday. On 1st October they travel to Slough Town’s Arbour Park ground to face Virginia Water.
Egham Town: Tyler Tobin, Ben Peden, Kyle Watson, Samad Kazi, Reece Yorke (C), Marley Anderson-Richards, Ronan Hutchins, Tyrique Tekasala, Jordan Brown, Bradley Clayton, Luke Heneghan Substitutes: Soul Hale, Josh Williams, Daniel Campion, George Tucker, Ryan Murad.

63'Soul Hale replaced Kyle Watson
66'Josh Williams replaced Luke Heneghan
80'Daniel Campion replaced Jordan Brown