Royals exit league cup following harsh Egham defeat
By Connor Steel
AFC PORTCHESTER crashed out of the Isthmian League Cup as they hosted their divisional rival Egham Town in the Second Round on Tuesday evening (October 28); the visitors earning a ‘comfortable’ two-nil victory with a goal in both half as the hosts squandered many chances in a game that was enjoyed by a big crowd at the On-Site Group Stadium.
The hosts started brighter in overcast conditions and should have netted within just seven minutes as Zak Willett broke through the middle, but his first touch was too powerful as the defender calmly removed this danger. The attacker went even closer moments later when he cut it inside and forced a brilliant save by Michael Edegbe onto the right hand post.
Harrison Brook had an opportunity on the fifteenth minute when a bouncing ball came back to him and he screwed one harmlessly over the crossbar from range, but it was actually Egham who took this lead ninety-seconds later. It came as some patient interplay was fed into the path of Jordi Youri Ebanda and he saw a touch before converting inside the net.
Gav Spurway’s team were seemingly ‘stunned’ at falling behind and they could have been 2-0 down after twenty-seven minutes as Reece York headed wide from a corner, whilst Luke Heneghan blasted into the defender’s legs shortly after. Down the other end Spencer Spurway’s driven effort was caught well by the away keeper to end a ‘frustrating’ first half.
Both teams made a steadier start to the second period and engaged in a midfield battle that neither outfit could control; Portchester seeing Spurway hold off two tackles and hit the right posts with a chipped finish on 53 minutes. Brook then went close as the powerful attempt was pushed away by this goalkeeper and cleared away from the covering defender.
Egham were however looking threatening in the counter attacks and they were the team to add their second on sixty-two minutes; Excellence Muhemba calmly blasting home inside the net at a recycled corner. The Royals thought they had made it 2-1 moments later as Connor Duffin nestled home a rebound only for this offside flag to rule the shot out.
Substitutions followed across both benches and this signalled a lull for the proceedings, whilst a short injury stoppage allowed some tired legs to regroup going into the last fifteen minutes. But in truth this tie did peter out to the inevitable conclusion with the away defence doing brilliantly to slow down attacks and only allowing Josh Clack to lash just wide.
Away victory means that Egham have clinched progress into the next stage of the knockout competition and will await information about their future opponents in due course, as well as the date of their match. For Portchester they will be hoping to return to winning form as they play Met Police this Saturday before visiting Westfield FC next Tuesday night.
PICTURED BY AFC PORTCHESTER MEDIA: Scene taken of quiet On-Site Group Stadium before Tuesday’s kick off.
