Sam’s butchered Save costs hosts
Windsor FC: Royalist goalkeeper's bungled clearance proves
Windsor 0, Egham Town 3
Goalkeeper Sam Butcher’s bungled attempt at a clearance proved the 'pivotal moment' for Windsor in Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Egham Town at Stag Meadow.
Windsor boss Mark Cooper was hoping to change things around at the break to get more from his attacking players, but those plans had to be revised when the Royalists' stopper misjudged Dan Brown's corner in the 40th minute and diverted into his own net. The home side were improved after the interval, and having taken on their managers' instruction were able to apply some more pressure, but Egham were never quite hemmed in on a bitterly cold afternoon.
They broke to score twice more before the end, through Brendan Matthew in the 68th minute and Sandro Costa two minutes from time. The result leaves Windsor seventh in the Combined Counties Premier Division North table ahead of Saturday's trip to league leaders Hanworth Villa.
“The first goal certainly changed our outlook for the second half,” said Cooper.
“We were going to change our shape at the break anyway as I believe we weren’t getting Ex (Excellence Muhemba) in the game enough. We came out, exerted some pressure, and were very much on the front foot.
“We huffed and puffed, created enough chances, but we were susceptible to the counter-attack and their speed of play.
“I think the scoreline suggests it was onesided, but I think it was an even match and to go back to where I thought we lost the game – that was on the stroke of half-time. It was a pivotal moment.”
Windsor could well have found themselves a goal down much earlier through Butcher’s decision-making when the goalkeeper rushed to meet Danny Campion inside the area and inadvertently brought the striker down. However, to Cooper’s relief, the referee was not interested in either the management staff of Egham or their supporters’ penalty cries.
Prior to the visitors’ opener, Danny Horscroft had presented the closest chance of the half for his side with the midfielder whistling an effort past the left post in the 30th minute.
A lack of communication can be attributed to Windsor’s misfortune just 10 minutes later, when the deadlock was broken through Brown’s cross. From the restart, the Royalists pressed well and won an early corner. From their endeavour, Egham were forced to hack the ball off the line and out for a throw in.
Charlie Losasso scuffed a shot next before Danny Campion squandered a golden opportunity down the other end when, sent through on goal, the number nine rounded Butcher with ease and punted an effort wide with the goal at his mercy.
Matthew, however, made no mistake in gifting his side another goal as the midfielder dispatched a well-taken finish when one-on-one with the Royalists’ ‘keeper.
A thrilling final 10 minutes would have certainly ensued if Ben Smyth managed to drag his shot the right side of the woodwork.
The game, however, was ultimately wrapped up by substitute Costa with a poacher’s effort two minutes from full-time.