The Ground
The Runnymede Stadium, which Egham have played at since their foundation in 1963, is a fine example of a traditional style non-league football ground. There is cover on all four sides of the ground which adds to the atmosphere of the stadium, giving it a hemmed in feel. The stadium is accessed through a fairly recent-looking housing development but has managed to retain a reasonable sized car park and clubhouse (which is separate from the ground itself. Access is through a turnstile that brings you in just to the side of the goal at the clubhouse end. The main stand, tea bar and players facilities are to your left. There are covered standing areas behind both goals and low, covered stand all down the side of the pitch opposite the main stand. The ground has a capacity of 5,500.
Before the game there were three points between the sides. Egham sitting just below mid-table with their visitors four places better off. Neither side could lay claim to any great form in recent weeks. Egham, despite winning their last league outing 4-1 at Camberley Town, had only picked up a single point in the four games previous to their trip to Krooner Park. Badshot Lea had also won last time out, 3-2 at Abbey Rangers, but had also lost 3 of the previous five before that.
The sides had not met in a league clash since The Sarnies promotion season of 2012-13, a season in which The Baggies finished seventh. Egham won both league encounters that season, 3-0 at Goldalming's ground where The Baggies were ground-sharing at the time and 3-2 in this corresponding fixture. There was, however, an early season 2-1 FA Cup victory for Badshot Lea.
The Baggies started the game at a much higher intensity than their hosts and this was shown by the fact that for the first 15 minutes the majority of the play was in the Egham half of the pitch.
Former Sarnie, Meschach Williams, was causing the home defence some problems with his pace and trickery. However, the away team failed to take advantage of their early possession, and as the game wore on the home side began to play themselves back into contention.
It was a full bloodied contest with some hefty challenges all across the park, some of which were deemed a little too robust for the referees liking and Badshot Lea found three of their players names in the little black book well before half-time.
Some hefty challenges going in at times and the visitors pick up 3 yellows
After weathering the Baggies' opening storm it was Egham who probably came the closest to scoring in the first 45 minutes when Kiemon Robinson's low, driven cross only just evaded the boot of the sliding Thomas at the far post.
HT Egham Town 0 Badshot Lea 0. The visitors opened well but the game was fairly even for the last 30 minutes. If anything Egham created the most clear cut opportunity but neither side good grab the opening goal.
Five minutes into the second period Baggies keeper Kallum Lunn was called upon to make a fingertip save to prevent Egham's top scorer, Luke Maguire, from breaking the deadlock. Lunn was certainly no the busier of the goalkeepers.
However, even Lunn's agility could not prevent the home side from taking the lead in the 71st minute. Kiemon Robinson swung in a tantalising corner which a number of players challenged for at the near post. No-one, including the keeper, got a touch on the ball and it bent straight into the net to make it 1-0.
The Baggies tried valiantly to respond but Egham remained solid at the back, seeing out the remainder of the game without too many alarms.
FT Egham Town 1 Badshot Lea 0. A low-scoring but entertaining game. The Baggies opened so well that it looked initially as if it was just a matter of time until they went ahead. The Sarnies weathered the initial storm and the remainder of the first-half was an even affair. IN the second-half it was again tight but Egham probably had the upper hand and just about deserved their three points.
Egham Town: Daley, Peden, Whorms, Da Costa(c), Sobalak, Humphries, O'Connell, Maguire, Thomas, Mbengui, Robinson. Subs: Ejiwunmi, Hassan, Rodrigues, Toney, Tomkins
Badshot Lea: Lunn, Pound, Roberts(c), Headley, New, Lloyd, Cadete, Blake, Williams, Lewington, Medcraft. Subs: Gorman, Pilling, Khadka, Cotton, Ciardini
Att:
Ground Number: 220
Entrance: £7.00
Programme: Online only