Egham Town 2-3 Kingstonian
BANGERS AND STAFF

A trip to Egham Town's Runnymeade Stadium, against a team 21st in Ryman League Division One South, for a potential quarter-final place against AFC Wimbledon in the Surrey Cup, almost proved to be too much for a dispirited Kingstonian side.

A quite amazing six minute spell before the half-hour mark twice saw the visitors take the lead, only for Egham to come back an equalise. A third goal did give K's the lead at the start of the second half, but this result was well and truly in doubt right up until the final whistle.

Things looked good for K's in the opening minutes, with both Stafford Browne and Craig Lewington going close, with the centre forward spurning a fine opportunity on fifteen minutes after being set up by Chris Bangura. But it was the newer of the two strikers who broke the deadlock. Browne's shot was deflected to the left edge of the area, and Bangura struck with his left foot, just beating James Mercer low to his right.

But within three minutes the scores were level. Graham Jack crossed from the right, Jeff Goulding headed goalwards, Lance Key saved only for Matt Edwards to turn the ball in from close in.

But within a minute K's were back in front. Liam Collins set off on a good run on the right, he crossed for Scott Steele who in turn played the ball on for Bangura. Unmarked and ten yards out, the striker wasted no time in scoring his fourth goal for the club.

But within two minutes the scores were level again. Another cross from the right caused consternation at the back, Edwards saw his shot saved by Key, but this time the ball fell to Goulding who scored from close-range.

The visitors started the second half brightly and could have scored before they actually managed to get the third, with Bashiru Alimi going close. But it was Stafford Browne who ironed out some furrowed brows, when he got on the end of a fine move.

Max Hustwick brought the ball out of defence with aplomb and played a peach of a ball out to Steele on the right. He played a square pass to Collins, who controlled with his chest and played in Browne. From the edge of the area, the striker promptly curled the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the net to regain the lead for his side.

The remainder of the half saw chances spurned by both sides. Bangura could - and perhaps should - have completed his hat-trick, while Lance Key pulled off another couple of saves to keep Egham at bay.

The last three or four minutes though saw the home side go all out for the equaliser. Loud appeals for a penalty were turned down after Matt Elverson and Goulding challenged in the area, and in the third minute of injury time Liam Garman - a half-time substitute - was called upon to clear off the line after Bryan Smith headed goalwards.

And so an unconvincing three-two win over a team more than a whole league below K's. The chance to play AFC Wimbledon in the quarter-finals is a plus, but there has to be some concern over the outcome of any such game with K's in this form. Yes the pitch was atrocious, but both teams played on the same one.