In the rearranged Christmas derby fixture, Chertsey Town almost became lost in the swirling mist that threatened to descend on Alwyns Lane and were disorientated souls in the first half of a highly committed Combined Counties League encounter with Egham Town.

The night air cleared at half-time, and along with it, Chertsey Town’s heads as they got back on track to take the points.

Restricted team selection continued to dog manager Spencer Day’s choices. Midfielder Andy Crossley has been rapidly maturing as a force of late but was sidelined with an ankle injury sustained three days earlier and will likely keep him away from the dressing room for a few weeks yet.

However, Ollie Treacher returned from sickness as the only change, abet with a raft of positional changes, from Town’s previous outing.

The game exploded into life from the off with the home side taking a two minute lead. Laika Saku blocked a clearance on the volley 30 yards out and the ball found Phil Page with the Egham defence off balance.

He advanced into the penalty area and fired in low past the advancing Justin Gray in goal. Chertsey looked to be in immediate control.

There is a dubious notion that a team can score too early. It certainly looked the case in this match for instead of imposing themselves, Chertsey looked complacent and allowed themselves to be over awed and dominated in the midfield by a very eager Egham Town eleven that featured five former Curfews players.

But for all their keenness to successfully retain possession of the ball, Egham were unable to deliver a shot until just before half time.

Chertsey played as if they were the away side by soaking up pressure on the edge of their own penalty area but then breaking out from time to time.

These occasional forays might have reaped results, firstly when Tom O’Regan weaved a way through the middle on the half hour but then fired wide with only Gray baring the way.

A scissors kick from Dominic Worthington in a rare up field excursion was collected by Gray but could have gone anywhere was another opportunity that when begging.

It was on 41 minutes before Egham achieved their goal when a ball came in low from the left. Treacher tried to clear but John Pomroy was on hand to somehow control the waist high ball down to his foot and slot it away at close range.

It was then hardly a case of the flood gates opening but the visitors might have taken the lead soon after when a header from Martin Randall clipped the outside of Craig Bradshaw’s upright.

Any thoughts the visitors might have had in carrying on their good work after the break never came close to being realised for Chertsey snatched and donned the cloak of endeavour that Egham wore in the first half.

Only one half chance fell to Egham in the last 45 minutes but Pomroy got his feet into a tangle and hit the deck instead of the back of the Chertsey net when close in.

It was his former team-mates that had, by then, taken over by controlling midfield territory and being sharp in attack. Only a well executed double save by Gray kept out two fierce strikes in succession from Dan Bennett then Dean Papali. But at least one more Chertsey goal had to come; the first of another two arrived on 79 minutes. Treacher chased a lost cause but kept the ball alive on the flank.

The ball was then delivered into the Egham penalty area. Chris Robinson tried to clear but was robbed by Trevor Charlery who then fired in a shot across the face of Gray. There was only a yard and half gap but Charlery found it with a foot to spare as the ball fizzed low inside the far right hand post.

A visibly tiring Egham Town tried to rally. They pushed their men more forward but it posed no real threat to Chertsey who then exploited the situation to wrap the game up five minutes from time.

The ball was despatched by O’Regan to Papali where, from 15 yards from goal, he produced a sublime well controlled chip over the keeper to pin the notice on the door that Chertsey Town are back firing on all cylinders and are ready to claw their way back as title contenders.