Cobham 1-2 Epsom and Ewell. Combined Counties League – Premier Division South. Saturday 16th November 2024

Momentum is a funny thing! At times this season, we have found ways to lose matches that we ought to have taken points from, yet on Saturday we managed to take three points from high flying Cobham on their own ground, when we probably didn’t deserve them. However, last week’s Vase win has given the players some confidence and this may have been the difference in our 2-1 win.

This second win in a row, and our first in the League for eight matches dating back to September was achieved despite a continual rotation of our squad in recent weeks, with three more players making their debuts in this contest. Callum Wilson came in for Toby Young at the back, while Conrad Essilfie-Conduah came in for Craig Dundas who had an afternoon spent mostly on the bench. Will Kendall came in for Oblitey and looked much more his old self in this one, scoring the winner with one of the worst free kicks you’ll witness!

We took the field at the Reg Madgwick Stadium in our yellow kit and kicked towards the main entrance end, which we didn’t do that often in our season as tenants here, so I assume we lost the toss. Either way though we made a fast start and Kendall fed Luke Miller, only to see our tricky winger’s shot on target well blocked by a defender, before Adam Green also saw his shot blocked and cleared in the opening ten minutes. We were doing most of the attacking, although our hosts forced Dan O’Donovan into a good low save soon after, with the follow-up shot blocked by Anthony Nazareth, playing against his old club.

We continued to press and an Ali Fofahan cross was just reached by Ryan MacLean in front of his keeper and the ball was cleared. Our boys were looking the more dangerous of the two sides at this stage and approaching the half hour a Fofahan corner was met by a glancing header from Kendall that hit the post and went away, with only our man ending up tangled in the net instead.

Elijah Simpson then got through, winning a one on one with Nazareth, but O’Donovan was out to smother the opportunity quickly. It also transpired that our defender had only been beaten to the ball as he had been injured a few minutes previously and his replacement at the back was Nicolas Bostan, who had joined us from Hampton & Richmond Borough in the last 24 hours.

However, by the time of that substitution we were already ahead, as another Fofahan corner required an intervention from Conrad Knight, who tipped the ball over his crossbar but from the next set piece, Fofahan sent the ball over to Ethan Nelson-Roberts on the left wing, and he cut inside onto his right foot before drilling the ball straight between the legs of MacLean and completely wrongfooting Knight as it flew into the bottom corner of the Cobham net from about twelve yards in the 39th minute.

Unfortunately, we held the lead for just five minutes before Cobham drew level with a good run down the right and delivery to the near post, where Derick Hayford was able to head the ball powerfully into the net from a few yards out via the crossbar. It was a proper centre-forward’s header and they always seem to look more spectacular when they go in off the frame of the goal!

We went in at the break level, but within 55 seconds of the second half played Kendall was sitting on the bench as a result of something he said. The hosts clearly saw this as an opportunity and began to push us back. We had a lucky escape when Patrick Murray struck the ball wide from close range and had to make some timely defensive blocks, but Kendall came back on after serving his ten minutes and at that point I thought we would take control again.

But it didn’t really work out that way. Cobham remained the more dominant of the two teams and at this stage it looked like a matter of when, not if they would take the lead. Wilson made a couple of great blocks and the game started to get broken up. That wasn’t helped by O’Donovan needing a couple of sessions of treatment for an injury that had earned Charlie Alexiou a yellow card earlier. There would clearly be a fair amount of injury time required! Before that though the home side continued to press and a ball in from the right bounced straight into the path of a Cobham player who smashed the ball at goal, only for O’Donovan to make an astounding save to deflect the ball over the crossbar from close range.

Blessing Hombessa, late of Knaphill, joined the fray as a substitute ahead of Miller, but his first contribution was to lose the ball in midfield, leading to a Cobham counter attack that earned a corner. Fortunately though it came to nothing and his second contribution was far better as his pass put Kendall through with just MacLean to beat, and the defender brought him down on the edge of the penalty area, earning a card of his own. As Adam Green lined up to take the set piece in the 85th minute, Will Kendall ran in and smashed the ball straight at the wall instead, at what you might like to call “upper groin height”! Nine times out of ten this free kick would be blocked by the wall, but on this occasion it parted like the Red Sea and Knight was once again left with no chance as the ball flew into the net.

There were nine minutes of injury time, during which Cobham pushed for an equaliser, but their attacks came to nothing. Kionte Gillfillian-Waul picked up an injury in the closing stages and was replaced by Jack Torbett, who became the third player to join us from Langley, but apart from one close range effort that went just over our bar it wasn’t a particularly nervy ending and the final whistle confirmed that the points were heading to Epsom. For those who love a stat, this win was our first ever League win on this day at the ninth attempt in the last hundred years!

This victory also lifted us up three places in the League and helps to reinforce most people’s belief that we are too good to go down. However, despite our performance, we had been struggling to pick up the points, so these were most welcome even if we have played better before this season and lost. We now visit Chipstead in pursuit of what would be our first ever League “double” against them. They go into our meeting having lost 7-0 at AFC Whyteleafe, but I’m sure that was just one of those days. Let’s hope we can keep our momentum going against the Chips as our tour of former landlords continues on Tuesday.

Epsom & Ewell: Dan O’Donovan, Niall Stillwell, Kionte Gillfillian-Waul, Adam Green (c), Anthony Nazareth, Callum Wilson, Luke Miller, Conrad Essilfie-Conduah, Will Kendall, Ali Fofahan, Ethan Nelson-Roberts

Subs: Nicolas Bostan for Nazareth (40), Blessing Hombessa for Miller (74), Craig Dundas for Fofahan (83), Jack Torbett for Gillfillian-Waul (93)

Report Source: www.eefconline.co.uk

In a contentious meeting on 12th November, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s Strategy and Resources (S&R) Committee rejected a £161,250 funding bid for the Nam Yang Martial Arts Centre, reversing an earlier recommendation from the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee (LPPC). The decision has drawn sharp criticism, particularly as it highlights inconsistencies in the Council’s handling of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allocations.

The Debate: A Promised Replacement Deferred

Nam Yang’s facility, once a vibrant community hub in Alexandra Recreation Ground, was demolished by the Council three years ago after being deemed unsafe. The Council had promised a replacement, yet rising costs and funding delays have left the organisation without a home.

Councillor Kate Chinn (Labour Court) spoke passionately at the meeting, sharing her personal connection to the project. “My son was a member of Nam Yang and thoroughly enjoyed it,” she stated. “It’s more than just a martial arts centre. It reduced antisocial behaviour in the park and made the area feel safer for the whole community.”

Chinn added, “That building has been down for a long time, leaving a gap in what the park offers. The absence is felt by the community.”

A Moral Obligation?

The debate underscored tensions between financial prudence and moral responsibility. Councillor Phil Neale (RA Cuddington), who had seconded the motion to support Nam Yang at the LPPC meeting, expressed his continued belief in the project’s value. “I felt a moral obligation for us to help,” he said. “The existing building was condemned and taken down with the promise that it would be rebuilt. I believed it was the right thing to do to bring it forward for consideration at S&R.”

However, Neale ultimately voted against the funding, explaining, “It’s a difficult position. While I supported its inclusion for debate, the project didn’t score high enough under the CIL spending protocol. I hope it will return for consideration in the next round.”

Criticism of the Process

Councillor Julie Morris, (LibDem College) who had originally proposed Nam Yang’s inclusion at the LPPC, has criticised the Council’s approach. “The procedures for bidding for and spending CIL monies are unclear,” she said. “The scoring process needs reviewing, as does the information required from applicants.”

Morris has highlighted systemic issues, such as the fact that no CIL funding was allocated last year due to a protocol rewrite. “One scoring question asked if applicants had received CIL funding last year. Given none was awarded, the question was pointless.”

A Divided Vote

Despite passionate arguments from some councillors, the vote to fund Nam Yang failed by a margin of 4 to 3. Chair Neil Dallen (RA Town) emphasised the importance of respecting the CIL Member Working Group’s recommendations, stating, “The group spent a long time assessing bids. We should honour their decision.”

Community Impact

The rejection leaves Nam Yang’s future uncertain, and many in the community feel let down. “This isn’t just about martial arts—it’s about providing a safe and inclusive space for children, people with special educational needs, and older residents,” said a local supporter.

Other strategic and community projects were approved as recommended previously. See Epsom and Ewell Times report below.

Related reports:

Epsom & Ewell Council Greenlights Local Projects

Dartfordians 26 Sutton & Epsom RFC 30. Saturday 9th November.

“When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.” Good old Bill
could have been referencing injury lists afflicting rugby coaches. The Sutton selectors
were hoping that the rest weekend would bring better news. For the Black & Whites there
was the return to the colours from the sick bay for Messrs Gibson & Wise. “For this relief
much thanks” as the Bard would say. Their return to Bourne Road was a nostalgic one for
Sutton & Epsom as Dartfordians were one of the 11 teams that composed the original
London One table for the 1987-88 inaugural league season. Though S&E had to wait until
the last game of the following campaign to play in Bexley as in those days you only played
each opponent once. For this time of asking on an afternoon of fluctuating fortunes Sutton
eventually prevailed 30-26.

There was a much more winter feel to proceedings this week with not only the
earlier 2pm kick off but also the permanently overcast sky and colder temperatures.
Freddy Bunting kicked off towards the appropriately named War Memorial Clubhouse
following the minute’s silence to commemorate the fallen. The omens looked favourable
as probing runs by Jordan Huie set up S&E for an initial assault. The ball was swept wide
and Angus Findlay set off for the corner. However, a combination of excellent cover and
the pass inside not being cleanly taken meant that the tie remained scoreless. That was to
be the last highlight for the visitors for a considerable time. Dartfordians solid set piece
and dominant line out provided the platform for the excellent Jarlath Hetherington to
dictate terms from 10.

After five minutes the hosts declined an easy 3-point penalty and kicked into the
corner. The pack secured the ball and flyhalf Hetherington combined a well-chosen line,
deft feet and pure power to score the opening try. His conversion put the icing on his cake
for a 7-0 lead. Elliot Soler-Gomez reclaimed the restart for Dartfordians and Sutton
conceded a soft penalty soon after. Further pain was denied when Dartfordians throw in
was adjudged to be crooked allowing the visitors to clear. Sutton’s next attack ended
tamely but they were brought back for a penalty. Captain Bunting stepped up to narrow
the gap to 7-3. The Bexley men were soon pressing for another score. The much-
improved Sutton defence denied them twice. Firstly, a turnover in the 22 and then when
an impatient attacker failed to release the ball with line at Dartfordians mercy. It was third
time lucky on the half hour when prop Ted Rackley muscled his way over the whitewash
after sustained pressure. Captain Hetherington added the extras for a 14-3 lead.

With the first half drawing to a conclusion Sutton conceded a penalty at a scrum for
an injudicious use of a hand, to strike the ball, that was not mistaken for a foot by Mr
Garland. Once more the hosts were in prime position in the 22. Possession was secured by
the pack and as the Black & Whites went into reverse it was spun wide. There was to be
no repeat of the earlier Jarlath Hetherington try as he was felled by two tacklers but
crucially he released the ball and lock Connor Faulkes squeezed into the corner. A fabulous
touchline conversion by Jarlath Hetherington put his side 21-3 ahead. The half ended with
S&E pressing hard for a score to gain a foothold in the contest. A huge overlap was
ignored and a simple pass was inexplicably dropped. These errors epitomised a frustrating
first forty for S&E whose best work had been negated by out of character mistakes.
For the second match in a row Dartfordians re-started with a healthy advantaged.

The previous round they defeated a defiant Old Tiffinians who came close to overturning
the deficit. Could Sutton do better or would it be a repeat of their Old Tiffinians experience
on their last away day outing? The Black & Whites had the perfect start to the second

period. Playing at a high tempo the forwards swarmed into the 22 and were awarded a
penalty. The visitors threatened the line before providing Tom Lennard with the ball. The
Sutton 10 then made a bid for the highest pass above pitch level in Sutton history as the
ball ballooned towards the touchline. Groans turned to cheers as it was held and flipped
inside for Matt Symonds to score his first try for the senior side. Freddy Bunting converted
from the flank and Sutton trailed 10-23.

The momentum and hope was nearly hastily dented. Perhaps over-confidence
coursing through S&E veins made them attempt to run it out against superior numbers
from their 22. Having not learned their lesson they eventually conceded a penalty adjacent
to the uprights. All assembled at Bourne Road were stunned when the reliable boot of
Hetherington failed to extend his sides advantage. Moments later the travelling support
were also surprised when Freddy Bunting missed a far more challenging penalty but they
have been spoiled by his familiar excellence. Five minutes later he had a far easier
opportunity to make amends and Sutton trailed 13-21.

With 15 minutes to play the fates dealt a cruel blow to the hosts to remind one of
the opening Shakespearean verse. Having already lost one of their front row to injury a
second was forced from the field of play. The remainder of the match had to continue with
uncontested scrums and Dartfordians were forced to play with 14. In addition, the
talismanic Hetherington also had to watch the denouement from the sidelines as he was
helped from the pitch to sympathetic applause. Minutes later Sutton took advantage.
Excellent pressure and swift continuity was rewarded by a try from the forwards. Flanker
Dan Jones was the man on the spot to benefit with the score. The Bunting boot made it a
one-point game as Dartfordians held a precarious 21-20 lead.

As Sutton & Epsom pressed for the lead they won another penalty and Bunting put
his team 23-21 ahead with a minute remaining. However, there would be considerable
time to be added on due to the earlier injuries. Then the Bunting boot became influential
again. He struck a wonderful clearance using his allegedly weaker left foot to win a 50/22.
From the attacking lineout the forwards delivered. The ball was secured and the catch and
drive presented Dan Jones with his second try. The conversion was mathematically
significant and Bunting bisected the uprights for 30-21 and a vital two-score advantage.
All credit to Dartfordians as they redoubled their efforts in search of bonus points.
Following the cruel injuries they endured only the most cold hearted would not have
viewed hooker Jack Hooban’s try, that earned two bonus points, on the final play from a
catch and drive as a fair reward in their 26-30 loss.

This was a commendable Sutton comeback from 18 points down made more
impressive because it was on the road. Injuries obviously assisted S&E but their second
half showing had already hinted at the triumph to come. For Dartfordians a couple of
missed opportunities in the first half ultimately proved costly. Rugby Lane will host the
next league fixture and Thurrock will be the visitors. In contrast to the last two visitors,
Sidcup and Medway, who arrived as league leaders the Essex club have had a tough
baptism to this league and are bottom of the table and still searching for a first win.

Sutton & Epsom
Findlay, Huie, Bibby, Bunting ©, Symonds, Lennard, Munford, Johnson, Boaden, Hilton,
Tame, McTaggart, Jones, Davies & Hegarty.
Replacements: Gibson, Gerhard & Baker.

Dartfordians
Cappuccio, Nissinen-Le, Soler-Gomez, Taylor J, Adams, Hetherington, Taylor P, Rackley,
Hooban, Chapman, Potter, Faulkes, Williams, Wright & Chandler.
Replacements: Tuffley, Heylen & Brent.

Epsom and Ewell 2-0 North Greenford United. Isuzu F.A. Vase – Second Round. Saturday 9th November 2024.

It’s official! This is now definitely a Vase run! We may have had a bye in the opening round, but since then, Seaford Town, Berks County and now North Greenford United have been defeated to give our boys a place in the last 64 for the first time since we hosted St Neots Town in 2010/11 as we defeated our opponents by two goals to nil at the KGF on Saturday.

North Greenford reached the Quarter-Finals of this competition last year; narrowly losing by the only goal against eventual winners Romford, and went into this match in second place in the North Division of the Combined Counties League, presumably hoping to go a step or two further this time. However, whilst on paper, we may not have been expected to win this tie, particularly after our recent form, we rode an early storm before taking the lead and extended it in the second half, by which time the visitors, for all their energy and effort, seemed to have run out of ideas against a well organised Salts team. In fact, for those who were present seven days previously for our 3-0 home defeat to Sheerwater, this match followed almost exactly the opposite pattern, with only a world class save at the end preventing us from recording a 3-0 scoreline of our own!

The first piece of good news came with the news that our Captain Adam Green had seen his red card at Carshalton Athletic overturned at an F.A. hearing, along with the four match suspension that went with it.

Having Green available was a massive bonus as he has grown in stature this season, while we also welcomed back Dan O’Donovan and Niall Stillwell after serving their suspensions incurred against Abbey Rangers, although we did have a few players cup tied. We also welcomed Surrey football royalty as S.C.F.A. President Ray Lewis was joined by League Chairman and newly elected F.A. Council member Chris Conlon. I am pleased to report that they had an enjoyable and entertaining contest to watch!

Against an away side playing with three at the back, we made a couple of early forays down the flanks with Ali Fofahan and Luke Miller but soon found ourselves on the defensive as a succession of corners were earned at the other end. This was then followed by an unnecessary seventh minute challenge from Green way out on the touchline that was at best exuberant; at worst, very clumsy! The referee made the easy decision to award the yellow card and our Captain would be on a tightrope for the remainder of the match.

O’Donovan was forced into a low save soon after this, and while the ball spun up off him, it was headed away from the danger area by a Salts defender. All of this in the opening nine minutes, yet in the tenth we took the lead. Ethan Nelson-Roberts cropped up on the right wing and pulled the ball back from the touchline where Miller dummied the ball cleverly, giving Fofahan space to pick his spot and sending the ball flying into the far corner of the net, about half way up, from just inside the penalty area.

The goal was a little against the run of play at that time, but the F.A. Vase is no respecter of possession stats or form, and if I’d had a pound for every time we lost out in the Vase when we didn’t deserve to, I’d have a fair sum of money, so we took the lead and ran with it! Not that we were home and dry at this stage by any means as our opponents spent much of the remainder of the first half pushing for an equaliser. O’Donovan nearly got caught out when he left his area and lost the ball out on the touchline. As he retreated, a cross was sent over him, although fortunately it didn’t fall for a visiting striker and we were able to escape.

In truth, very little really fell for the opposition throughout the match as they repeatedly tried and failed to link up with their front men; the ball often running out of play. They had a free kick that was flicked on at the near post, but the chance was headed over at the far post and Toby Young also had to make a headed clearance. However, we could and probably should have extended our lead just after the half hour when Nelson-Roberts closed down a clearance from Greenford keeper Ryan Lehane with the ball squirting out to the right hand side where Carl Oblitey was able to feed Miller, but our tricky winger, usually so clinical, poked the ball wide from twelve yards out.

Green then spurned a great opportunity as he was first to reach a Fofahan free kick, but instead of the thumping header that was required, he made only the merest of touches as he dived and the ball went well wide of the goal. Green then turned provider in first half injury time with a quick delivery in from the right that Fofahan reached first and diverted on goal, although it was almost instantly cut out by Anotida Mano. Although the half went on for another seven minutes, largely due to another injury to Young who made a solid challenge, but came off worse and required Callum Wilson to replace him, we went in at the break, aware that we’d had less possession, but also aware that we had carried at least as much threat from our attacks. But could we hold on to our narrow lead in the second half?

As it turned out, the answer would be yes, and in truth, fairly comfortably as well. After an even few minutes to open the second period, we extended our lead in the 54th minute and it came with one of the best passes I’ve seen in ages, curling with the outside of the foot and straight into the path of Miller. I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t see who made it, as I was by then following the attack, but was informed afterwards that it was Anthony Nazareth who deserved the credit. Miller took the ball in stride and drew his defender before rolling the ball perfectly through to Fofahan who was through on goal, and whilst a defender hurried him into the shot, and even got a touch to the ball some eighteen yards out, the ball still crept into the far corner of the goal to give us a 2-0 Salts.

Green then sent a teasing ball across the six yard box as we threatened a third goal, before we all then had a slight interval while Lehane was treated for cramp, which seemed odd as he hadn’t really been that involved in the match! Craig Dundas tested him soon after with a low drive before we created another good chance when substitute Michele Maccari was put through and as he reached the ball ahead of the exposed Lehane, he just had the task of knocking the ball into the empty net. Only one problem though; he was over thirty yards out and his shot dribbled agonisingly beyond the far post.

The visitors continued to raise the tempo, although their football was becoming more frantic and desperate, trying to force things instead of remaining patient and their attacks broke down more frequently. Occasionally we needed to step in with fouls to break up the play and Dundas, Stillwell and Kionte Gillfillian-Waul all picked up cards, while O’Donovan had one waved in his direction for time wasting too, although he did well with a reflex save to deny a close range shot in the closing moments. Luckily we didn’t exceed the five booking mark and it was only an amazing point blank save from Lehane that kept out substitute Kendall from a couple of yards after Miller had set him up with a low right wing cross. A third goal might have been harsh on the visitors, but by the end, there was no denying that we had deserved the win.

So far we have had a full house of home draws in the F.A. competitions this season (two in the Cup, three in the Vase) although the next round traditionally includes clubs all the way down to the South West, so we might well get a long journey. In fact, the last time our club had an away tie in the Third Round was in 2009/10 when we visited Wellington AFC; right on the border between Somerset and Devon! That said, who would bet against a sixth straight home F.A. competition encounter being revealed in the draw on Monday and taking place at the KGF on 7th December!

Epsom & Ewell: Dan O’Donovan, Niall Stillwell, Kionte Gillfillian-Waul, Adam Green (c), Anthony Nazareth, Toby Young, Luke Miller, Craig Dundas, Carl Oblitey, Ali Fofahan, Ethan Nelson-Roberts

Subs: Callum Wilson for Young (45+6), Michele Maccari for Nelson-Roberts (74), Will Kendall for Fofahan (85)

Report Source: www.eefconline.co.uk

Epsom and Ewell 0-3 Sheerwater. Combined Counties League – Premier Division South Saturday 2nd November 2024

On a very mild Saturday afternoon at the KGF Salts fans were hoping for fireworks against Sheerwater, and indeed they started off like a rocket. However, rockets have a tendency to tail off very badly, and long before the end it had fizzled out completely as a 3-0 defeat handed the Sheers their sixth straight win over our boys.

In recent weeks we have won some and lost some, while we have also drawn a great many. However, in all of the matches we remained competitive, which regrettably was not the case in this contest against a clinical visiting team. We started well enough, before the opposition scored a couple of goals and then shut us out for the remainder of the match; scoring a third goal towards the end to rub salt into the wounds. By the end we looked quite disheartened against one of the few teams that had actually been below us in the table before kick off, which is concerning ahead of our big F.A. Vase match next weekend. In fact, the second half was most definitely the worst forty-five minute period we have produced for weeks.

In front of an “official” attendance of 106, which contained around twenty non-paying spectators from our young Colts teams, we made a number of changes, many of which were enforced. In goal Faebian Witter came in for the suspended Dan O’Donovan, and if you like your stats, this marked the first time in forty years to my knowledge where a goal keeper played against us in one match, only to then turn out for us in our very next match! For those wondering, it was Andy Abel who played so well for Addlestone & Weybridge against us in a pair of Surrey Senior Cup ties, that our Manager Adrian Hill signed him up for our remaining League matches in 1983/84! Also suspended was Niall Stillwell, while Adam Green also missed out after picking up five bookings this season. Green currently faces a further suspension from next Saturday and on the evidence of this match we will miss him badly, although there may be an opening for him as a cheerleader as he was doing a good job of directing the singing for the Colts behind the goal! Finally, in the opposition line up was former Salt Joel Onu, who would join the match from the bench later.

The visitors took the field in a quite frankly vomit-inducing combination of various shades of purple! On a bobbly looking surface that looked like it needed mowing, we started well and should have taken the lead in the 11th minute when Ali Fofahan pulled the ball back from the left wing, only for Kailan North to miskick the ball just eight yards out in a central position. Fofahan’s next delivery was a little too close to Fabio Suarez who punched the ball clear, but we were well on top at this stage.

However, the pattern of the match changed completely in the 17th minute when Sheerwater made their first foray into Epsom territory and won a corner, but we didn’t deal with this at all well and the far post delivery was headed back across goal by Liam Avery for Harvey Valter to head in from close range, with neither of the players being marked at all. Three minutes later it was two-nil as Elliott York sent a dipping shot at goal from outside the penalty area and Witter was unable to keep it out as the ball went to his left.

From this point Sheerwater made it clear that they were going to stick with what they had. Suarez slowed the game down with the referee complicit in allowing this to happen. However, the defenders in front of him were defending heroically, throwing themselves in front of every shot we sent towards the visiting goal. The first block came from a Will Kendall free kick, which was blocked out wide to Carl Oblitey, who then sent in a great cross that Kendall rose to meet with a header that clipped the crossbar and went out for a goal kick. Moments later another attack was met by a piledriver from Toby Young, but another great defensive block was enough to divert the shot just over the bar. As half time approached North also saw his shot blocked and Fofahan saw his shot bounce down and over the bar. As we went off at half time, it was hard to believe that we hadn’t scored, having had a significant majority of possession and chances.

We started the second half rapidly and almost had a goal back in the first fifteen seconds when Fofahan’s low ball across goal was wildly miskicked by a defender and went through to Kendall, but our man clearly hadn’t been expecting the present and snatched at the ball, slicing it wide from twelve yards. What we didn’t realise after fifty minutes of creating chances, was that this one would represent our last real opportunity in the match. The visitors started to shut us out of the game, almost as if they had seen what we had got, and decided that we weren’t hurting them. Anthony Nazareth picked up a yellow card for a challenge that looked more clumsy than malicious, and it was possible that he also injured himself at the time as he was replaced four minutes later. Then on the hour we saw a debut from Michele Maccari on the left wing, who replaced the out of sorts Luke Miller with Fofahan taking his place on the right. It seems that every week we have a new player, yet defensively where we have had most issues, there appear to be no changes. It would be nice for the club to provide some sort of player update for our patient supporters at some point in the near future.

One player that was back in Epsom colours was Fabio Nunes who had completed his suspension, and he nearly pulled a goal back for us with a twenty-five yard strike that took a wicked deflection off a defender, but Suarez adjusted brilliantly to stick out a hand and as the ball dribbled away, he recovered to claim the loose ball before Kendall could reach it, although our man was offside anyway.

I referred earlier to Joel Onu, who had been on our bench for a few games, but only making one appearance. The supporters only knew he had left when he appeared in the opposition line up! Clearly Onu also wanted to send a message to our Management that they had made the wrong decision in letting him go, and in the 80th minute he broke our offside trap before slotting the ball under Witter to make the score 3-0. That third goal was also enough to put the visitors above us in the League table.

As the game petered out Onu got through again and although Callum Wilson managed to recover the position, he hurt himself in the process and needed to be replaced. As Luke Taylor came on, it was interesting to note that it was the first time this season that we had used all five substitutes, although Taylor hardly got a touch before the final whistle blew.

This was also our third defeat in a row and more relevantly it was our seventh League match without a win, during which time we have played three of the teams that were below us at the time in Horley, Balham and now Sheerwater without defeating any of them. Whilst we have had good spells in all three of the recent defeats, the results speak for themselves and it’s not great form to enter our big F.A. Vase match next Saturday, but at least we will have most of our suspended players back. It also transpires that the club are appealing Green’s red card from the Carshalton Athletic match, which on the face of it appears a complete waste of money, as contact was made, however accidental it may have been. Maybe he will be available, maybe he won’t; either way, the rest of the team will need to step up a couple of gears if we are to get out of this concerning slump.

In summary, Sheerwater weren’t three goals better than us, although it could be argued that they were three goals smarter!

Epsom & Ewell: Faebian Witter, Toby Young, Ethan Nelson-Roberts (c), Kailan North, Anthony Nazareth, Callum Wilson, Luke Miller, Craig Dundas, Carl Oblitey, Will Kendall, Ali Fofahan

Subs: Kionte Gillfillian-Waul for Nazareth (56), Michele Maccari for Miller (61), Fabio Nunes for North (65), Jason Bloor for Kendall (80), Luke Taylor for Wilson (92)

Report Source: www.eefconline.co.uk

For the hosts it was a Saturday of availability Armageddon with an injury list mounting
that targeted the front and back rows. Players of yesteryear were called to arms and the 2nd
XV was ransacked as such resources would have been familiar to Old Mother Hubbard. Jac
Davies was the only debutant as the scrum half pitched is as an open-side flanker. In contrast,
Medway who have enjoyed a remarkable consistency in selection, with their sizeable travelling
support from Priestfields, looked forward to another showing of “The Usual Suspects”. To add
to the task the Kent side topped the table having only lost their opening game of the
campaign. Confounding all expectations Sutton & Epsom, for the second match in a row at
Rugby Lane, lowered the colours of the league leaders to be victorious by 22-18.
On an overcast but still afternoon that hinted at future rain Freddy Bunting kicked off
towards the Cabbage Patch. Understandably confident from their five game winning streak the
visitors were immediately on the attack. The eponymous Bullock charged down the paddock
from his own 22. Passes were interchanged and a dramatic opening score was denied by the
scrambling defence in the S&E 22. Sutton were also lively in the opening exchanges and after
five minutes they were awarded a kickable penalty. In a tactical shift of tectonic proportions
Freddy Bunting went for goal and put his team 3-0 up.
This minor irritation did not derail the Medway machine as they stormed into action.
The closer to the line they got the harder the hosts tackled. The ball was spun wide and a try
looked probable. The visitors employed that popular rugby elision, the long miss pass, that
was met by that familiar foe, the interception. Adam Bibby set off for glory eliciting roars of
encouragement as he sped past the grandstand. Frantic defenders closed in from all angles
and brought him down ten metres short. However, Mr Richardson’s whistle offered the
consolation of a second penalty. With ten minutes on the clock Freddy Bunting doubled the
advantage to 6-0. Five minutes later, another indiscretion, another penalty and another
Bunting three points for 9-0.
The visitors were determined to put the upstart hosts firmly in their place. Almost
fifteen minutes of unbroken possession, pressure and territorial dominance ensued.
Galvanised by their lead and confident in their defensive unity the Black & White line held fast.
A couple of penalties were kicked by Medway for lineouts. Unfortunately, during this passage
of play Sutton lost outside centre Finlay Scott to injury and were forced to reshuffle the backs
as Adam Bibby went to 13 and Alfie Baker came off the bench to play on the wing. On the half
hour the table-toppers were awarded another penalty and decided on going for gold. Harrison
Fermor bisected the uprights to trail 3-9.
It was Sutton & Epsom’s turn to attack but a probing Bunting kick keep appeared to
nestle harmlessly in the in-goal area under the supervision of John Sipawa. Remarkably the
winger knocked on the stationary ball to gift Sutton a 5-metre scrum. The home team ran into
a red and amber wall and were turned over and Medway kicked the subsequent penalty to the

The lineout was overthrown and eager Sutton hands gathered the ball. Replacement prop
Richard Madadangoma rampaged forward before the backs were released. Slick hands and
accurate passing was rewarded as fullback Austin Bell timed his entry into the line to
perfection to score. Freddy Bunting converted from the flank and S&E led 16-3.
Medway went in search of a score before the break. A neat lineout move thrown to the
front man tried to catch Sutton napping but it came to nought. Soon afterwards there was
another penalty to the Black & Whites followed by a stern lecture to Medway lock Peter Cole.
The first half ended without any further additions to the scoreboard. The teams turned around
with S&E leading 16-3. The makeshift Sutton & Epsom XV were on course for a major upset
but everyone at Rugby Lane was expecting more of the same in the second half, relentless
Medway pressure. Both sides gathered in a huddle unleashing a primal scream and prepared
for battle in the second period.

The opening five minutes were very positive for the Black & Whites, from the secure
Glanville take of the restart to winning a scrum against the head. S&E had a free ball and
Freddie Bunting attempted a drop goal from distance. It drifted wide but he had the
consolation of a long-range penalty to extend the lead. The distance was just beyond his limit
and Medway touched down under their posts. Soon the visitors were refreshing their XV from
the bench and pinning Sutton in their 22 with searching kicks. The vital first score of the half
went to the league leaders after a dozen minutes. A determined run down the touchline by
John Sipawa burst through the initial tackle and though he was felled by the cover he did
wonderfully well to stretch out a telescopic arm as his momentum took the ball over the line.
Harrison Fermor’s touchline conversion failed but the morale-boosting try made it 16-8.
Moments later Medway conceded yet another kickable penalty and Freddy Bunting
obliged with three more points for 19-8. The visitors’ frustration with the arbiter of truth and
justice overflowed and a couple of minutes later a vocal objection to a decision from Mr
Richardson led to an additional 10-metre stroll for the defenders. Once more Captain Bunting
tested his kicking powers and again it fell short and the game restarted with a 22 drop out.
The game entered the final quarter and ominously for the home supporters Medway scored
their second try. Excellent support play was rewarded as Harrison Fermor was on hand to
score in the corner despite the desperate defence. The 15 was unable to add the extras to his
try but his side at 13-19 were within a score with plenty of time left on the clock.
The Black & White defence girded their collective loins and continued to tackle
ferociously and win vital turnovers. Additionally the pack were causing Medway problems at
the scrum. Another blast of the whistle, another penalty near halfway and another shot at
goal for Sutton. These penalties may not have impacted the scoreboard but they frustrated
the visitors, took vital time off the clock and made them initiate their attacks from their own

The game was becoming more open and there was no rest from the red and amber
attacks and pressure. Sutton were most fortuitous when Tom Lennard was charged down that
the loose ball returned to the miscreant kicker. The crowd, living every moment, roared on
their sides. As the game entered time added on Freddy Bunting had the opportunity to make it
a two-score game with a penalty adjacent to the uprights just outside the 22. He voraciously
accepted this tasty offering for 22-13.
Medway now threw the entire contents of the kitchen at the Sutton defences. John
Sipawa was greeted by three tacklers and bundled into touch. Jac Davies made a wonderful
cover tackle as a line break was extinguished. Every phase repelled ate into the clock until the
final play. The Kent side were rewarded with a Max Bullock try in the corner and a bonus point
but a delighted S&E side knew that the conversion would be followed by the final whistle. The
kick failed and the joyous celebrations began for an outstanding 22-18 victory.
The Sutton defence appeared to have been constructed by Aniketos and Alexiares as
the Black & Whites summoned up their inner Heracles. It was a classic example of just what
can be achieved with team spirit, defensive resolve and commitment to the cause. Medway
never stopped attacking and this was epitomised by winger John Sipawa who bounced off
tacklers and swatted away defenders in an effort to breach the Sutton defence. The two
teams now get a most welcome week off. The season resumes on 9th November when Sutton
& Epsom travel to Dartfordians whilst Medway are on the road again with a trip to Thurrock.
Sutton & Epsom
Bell, Bibby, Scott, Bunting ©, Findlay, Lennard, Munford, Johnson, Jones, Hilton, Glanville,
McTaggart, Gerhard, Davies & Hegarty.
Replacements: Madadangoma, Williams & Baker.
Medway
Fermor, Chalmers, Bullock, Clement ©, Sipawa, Wardzynski, Grice, Nickalls, Knight, Campbell,
Cole, Stubbington, Jackson, Gibson & Purslow.
Replacements: Hyde J, Hyde N & Reeves.

Abbey Rangers 2-1 Epsom and Ewell FC. Combined Counties League – Premier Division South. Saturday 26th October 2024.

Eleven months ago we visited Addlestone Moor and lost 2-1 in a controversial match that contained three converted penalties. This latest visit ended with the same scoreline, although this time we had to finish the match with nine men and still nearly got a draw out of it.

Arguably this match was less controversial than that previous encounter at the Moor, despite the dismissals, which it was hard for anyone to argue with. The match programme referred to some nasty games in the past between the clubs, and that things had mellowed somewhat since then, but this one was a typically old school niggly Abbey v Epsom match; full of commitment and plenty of solid challenges that the referee did his best to keep a lid on, even towards the end when things began to get a bit fractious.

In terms of personnel we made five changes. Dan O’Donovan came in between the posts for Faebian Witter, while Niall Stillwell and Callum Wilson returned at the back in place of the injury-hit Ethan Brazier and David Romer. Further forward Luke Miller came in on the left wing, requiring Ethan Nelson-Roberts to drop back and leaving Kionte Gillfillian-Waul on the bench. Finally, it was great to see Will Kendall back in the line up after spending a lot of time abroad recently. Although not match-fit yet, his return to the squad will boost our striking options and was particularly timely as I was advised that Carl Oblitey was at a wedding, so he slotted straight in without any significant change to our formation. For Abbey Rangers, there were a couple of former Salts in the line up in keeper Shay Honey and left back Jerry Antwi, the latter of which had had a couple of spells with us in recent years.

The tone for this match was set as early as the third minute when Stillwell put in a thumping and completely fair challenge out on the touchline, although a few minutes later he received a yellow card for a handball that would have repercussions for him later on. On the quarter hour mark Ali Fofahan, operating on the right wing to start with, skewed a cross which then became a shot, although Honey was ready and caught the ball on the goal line. Our former keeper also had to be alert to punch a near post Adam Green corner away, while at the other end O’Donovan was able to deal fairly comfortably with a long range effort.

In truth, this was the pattern of the first half, with very few real chances as both teams looked fairly secure at the back. However, it was from one of these that the hosts too the lead as a nice move ended with Finley Warren who rode a couple of challenges and drilled the ball low to O’Donovan’s right from just inside the penalty area to open the scoring in the 29th minute. It nearly got worse as Jordan Ikala robbed Anthony Nazareth and ran through on goal, trying to curl the ball left footed around the advancing O’Donovan, which he was able to do from thirty yards, only to see the ball strike our post and go out for a goal kick.

In response a Miller header set up Kendall for a chance that he hooked just over the bar on the turn from twelve yards and in the final minute of the half Nelson-Roberts tried his luck from around thirty-five yards out at an angle, but Honey was alert to tip the ball over for a fruitless Epsom corner. We went in at the break trailing by that single goal, despite the match being very even to that point.

We re-started the brighter of the two teams and Miller saw his cross/shot from a narrow angle tipped over, but the game soon settled into the same pattern as the first half with both teams cancelling each other out and restricting goal scoring opportunities, but things took a turn for the worse in the 61st minute when a long ball caught O’Donovan out badly and despite being some twenty-five yards out from his goal, he chose to stop the ball from going over his head with both hands, incurring the fairly obvious red card as a result. It was impossible to argue with this decision and of course led to the next question of who would replace him? Kailan North was the man for the job and he took over the role to become our first outfield player in goal since Nick Wilson against Hailsham Town in February of 2023.

Despite the player disadvantage, the match continued to be fairly even in front of an attendance that was advised as 43 by Football Web Pages and 59 by the FA Full Time site, even though there were around 80 in attendance! Abbey clearly decided they were going to test the “new” keeper out and a few long range efforts were sent in North’s direction, although he dealt with them fairly well, particularly a free kick that he kept out at the near post after Green had taken one for the team by bringing down an Abbey attacker just outside the penalty area.

We changed our formation in the 75th minute and gambled with three at the back with Nelson-Roberts in a more advanced role, but the home side began to create more opportunities. Green did really well to get in the way of a powerful strike in goal for a corner, but the subsequent set piece was pulled back to Brad Marshall who struck the ball powerfully past North at the near post from twenty yards to give the hosts a two goal lead in the 78th minute.

Conrad Essilfie-Conduah came on in relief of Craig Dundas and we won a free kick just outside the area after a foul on Green that earned Antwi a yellow card. Miller then struck the free kick around the wall, forcing Honey to make a good save, but the ball bounced up off him and struck the retreating Marshall squarely in the chest and sending the ball over the line before he could clear it to reduce the arrears in the 84th minute. Marshall had scored at both ends in the space of just six minutes!

This was the fourth own goal in our favour in the last eight matches, but our chances of forcing an equaliser were hampered when the home side broke away and Stillwell was adjudged to have brought him down. It looked from where I was standing as though he got the ball, but he also appeared to get a part of the player too and the second yellow card was inevitable once the referee had deemed the challenge as a foul. Both of our players will miss the Sheerwater League match next Saturday. For those who love their stats, this was the tenth time in our history that we had been reduced to nine men, the most recent of which came on that infamous day at Dorking Wanderers Reserves back in December 2021. These were our fifth and sixth red cards of the season already though, and maybe we need to give a little bit more thought to our discipline going forward as we are already over half way to passing our rather high club record of eleven in a season.

Ikala sent a good opportunity high and wide from a good position, while another home forward picked up a yellow card for a blatant dive and we nearly levelled it up in the seventh and final minute of injury time when a Miller free kick was deflected for a corner, from which Honey punched the ball clear at the second attempt. On another day we might well have got that equaliser too, and it is hard to argue that Abbey Rangers truly earned all three points here on the balance of play, but they managed to keep all eleven players on the pitch and for that reason alone, they deserved the points more than we did.

This was our first defeat in eight matches and whilst all four of the League contests in that sequence have been draws, it is now six Combined Counties League matches without a win. However, no real harm was done to our position as we currently sit well clear of the bottom two clubs, who both also lost this day. Sheerwater are another of the four clubs below us right now and they will be our next League opponents at the KGF on Saturday, but before then we have a Monday Surrey Senior Cup trip to Carshalton Athletic. We’ll definitely need all eleven men for that contest, as we haven’t beaten them since 1955!!

Epsom & Ewell: Dan O’Donovan, Niall Stillwell, Ethan Nelson-Roberts, Adam Green (c), Anthony Nazareth, Callum Wilson, Luke Miller, Craig Dundas, Will Kendall, Kailan North, Ali Fofahan

Subs: Jason Bloor for Kendall (73), Conrad Essilfie-Conduah for Dundas (80)

_{Report Source: www.eefconline.co.uk}

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council’s Environment committee has authorised the contracts for three tennis coaching providers in Epsom.

R&A Sport will be carrying out coaching sessions at Auriol Park, Sutton Tennis Coaching will be offering sessions at Alexandra Park and Callum Macarty Coaching operating at Court Recreation Ground.

From April, the council moved to a pay-to-play scheme on all its tennis courts. The decision was taken to make the courts self-sufficient with all funds raised being reinvested in maintenance and future improvements.

Since the pay-to-play system was introduced, the council has been committed to ensuring those of all ages, experience, and socio-economic backgrounds are able to participate in tennis. The council offered free tennis sessions throughout the summer, when 173 residents played free of charge.

In addition to this, as part of the tennis coaching contract, all tennis coaching providers are required to take part in the Barclays Free Park Tennis Initiative, offering at least one hour of free, supervised, community tennis activity at their designated location each weekend.

The council is also looking for local volunteers willing to be tennis activators. These activators will lead free tennis sessions in the parks on Saturday mornings. Until these sessions are up and running in all tennis courts across the borough, the council is offering two free, bookable sessions between 9-10am and 10-11am each Saturday.

Councillor Liz Frost, (RA Langley and Woodcote) Chair of the Environment Committee said:

“We are committed to the pay to play model which will future-proof our courts so that residents can enjoy access to tennis now and in years to come.

Residents can pay to play or purchase a membership, including a discounted membership for those or in receipt of Universal Credit or Full Time Carers Allowance or with a disability.

We would also urge anyone interested in volunteering as a tennis activator at one of our courts to get in touch – we’d love to hear from you.

We’re pleased to sign up three coaching providers, which not only provides extra investment income for the courts but also more opportunities for free coaching sessions.”

Related reports:

Anyone for tennis?

LibDems call “Love All” for local tennis

Anyone for tennis? If you pay.

Tennis at 95 is the norm.

_{Image – C. Epsom and Ewell Times Ltd}

The Daily Telegraph (Monday 21st October) has highlighted a significant revival for Epsom’s historic role in British horse racing, reporting on the recent developments at Downs House, a training yard with a prestigious past. According to the Telegraph’s racing correspondent, Marcus Armytage, the once derelict site is now undergoing a transformation into a modern facility, spearheading efforts to attract London-based owners back to the area.

The report details how New Zealander Mark Travers, who has lived in the UK for two decades, undertook the ambitious seven-year project to restore Downs House. Situated just a quarter of a mile from the start of the Derby, Downs House had long symbolized Epsom’s decline as a training hub, having lost its prominence as a centre for racehorse training decades ago. However, the newly revamped facility, now boasting space for 70 horses and cutting-edge amenities, is positioned to revive the town’s fortunes.

The Daily Telegraph also reports that George Baker, a Stewards’ Cup-winning trainer, will move his operation to Downs House in January. Baker, along with his wife Candida, was struck by the state-of-the-art facilities and the untapped potential of the nearby gallops. The move signals a bold step forward for Epsom’s equine industry, which has long played second fiddle to more prominent centres like Newmarket and Lambourn.

Baker, who has trained horses from his base in Chiddingfold, shared with the Telegraph how unlikely the move to Epsom once seemed. Yet, the combination of modern infrastructure and proximity to London convinced him to seize the opportunity. In an era when racehorse ownership is increasingly attractive to Londoners, Downs House’s accessibility could be a game-changer.

As reported, Baker hopes that his move will contribute to the broader rejuvenation of Epsom as a competitive training centre. With room for 50 horses initially, Baker is aiming to fill the yard within two years, making the facility a top choice for owners seeking convenience and quality.

While Epsom’s journey back to its glory days remains a work in progress, the ambitious restoration of Downs House, as highlighted in The Daily Telegraph, marks a pivotal step in the town’s efforts to reclaim its place on the racing map.

_{Image: Downs House aerial – Google}

Epsom and Ewell FC 3-1 Berks County. Isuzu F.A. Vase – First Round. Sunday 20th October 2024

Just 6 days before the 50 year anniversary of our very first F.A. Vase match against Reigate Priory, we played our 94th match in that competition against a new opponent in Berks County FC; a club formed as recently as 2009 and playing in the North Division of our League, and we were good value for our 3-1 win at a soggy KGF. For those interested, it was our 45th win in that time.

This result improved our recent form to just one loss in our last eleven matches and it is a shame that our club don’t seem to be able to keep up with this off the field. They may claim this was a healthy looking attendance of 145 which, on the face of it, might seem ok for a Vase match, but when you bear in mind that there were only two other games at this or a higher standard anywhere in the Southern half of the country, we really missed an opportunity to pull in a crowd well over the 300 mark and it’s really time that questions were asked about those people who are “running” our club, who appear uncaring or more worryingly oblivious to the opportunities they keep missing, instead believing that bringing in about fifteen of the Colts and a few of their parents each week is somehow sufficient to tick the “family club” box. Throw in a number of unanswered requests on the club Twitter site relating to whether there was going to be an inspection, which was a perfectly valid question following our postponement on Tuesday and you wonder whether our club really do care about your attendance at these matches. And in case anyone is wondering, yes, I have offered my services on many occasions.

There was only one person connected with the club who seemed to show a bit of energy and he was the chap on the tannoy system. Maybe he will even benefit the club, once he can actually get our own players names right!

The club held a minute’s applause for supporter Peter Mitchell before the kick off. Whilst he may have been deserving of a minute’s recognition as he was a fairly loyal supporter over the two and a half seasons he was following us, I see no reason whatsoever for any supporters or club officials to receive this fairly recent fad of a minute’s applause. In my opinion, a minute’s silence should be sufficient, with applause given only to former players and maybe some Managers. Having said that, our club never even bothered to hold a minute’s acknowledgement of any kind for recently passed strikers Gerry O’Rourke and Ben Forey, the latter of whom even sits on our goal scoring Hall of Fame, so it will be interesting to see what happens next time one of these tributes is required at an Epsom match.

We made four changes from our recent 2-2 draw against Fleet Town. Ethan Brazier was fit again and resumed at right back in place of the absent Niall Stillwell, while David Romer came in for Callum Wilson who had suffered a small injury issue at Thursday’s training session. Faebian Witter came in between the posts ahead of Dan O’Donovan, while further forward we had a debut for Kailan North who had recent spells with Colliers Wood United and Banstead Athletic. He came in for the cup-tied Jason Bloor, who had made an appearance for Langley earlier in the competition.

As the pre-match rain eased, it became apparent that the match was not starting on time. For those who were wondering why this was, as the club chose not to advise the reason, it was due to the late arrival of the visiting keeper, Harvey Rackley-Hayes. I’m not entirely sure why this delay was allowed for just one missing player, but either way we kicked off twenty minutes after the original start time in conditions that were far better than originally expected due to the virtual non-arrival in our area of Storm Ashley.

We had an early opportunity when Kionte Gillfillian-Waul sent in a good ball, but it zipped across the wet turf and Carl Oblitey couldn’t quite reach it. Then in the 17th minute we probably should have taken the lead when a free kick was half cleared to Ethan Nelson-Roberts and whilst his shot was deflected for a corner, Adam Green’s delivery into the danger area looked like it would be met by Anthony Nazareth, but he missed his header from close range, only for the ball to fall back to him just six yards out at an angle, from where he sent his shot over the bar.

The visitors volleyed a corner wide at the near post, but we were back on the attack soon after and a deep Fofahan cross resulted in a drop from Rackley-Hayes, but as the loose ball was drilled into the net by Nelson-Roberts, the whistle blew as the referee felt that the County keeper had been fouled. It was a soft one for sure, but in the 26th minute we went ahead anyway after a poor back pass from Will Edwards was intercepted by Fofahan and he drew the keeper before slotting the ball between his legs and into the net from just inside the penalty area.

However, within two minutes of making the breakthrough, the visitors drew level as a deep right wing cross was met at the far post with a header back across Witter from George Gould. Our keeper got a hand to the ball but couldn’t keep it out.

Fofahan was giving the Berks County defenders a lot of trouble and he had a speculative effort from 25 yards that went wide, but in the 36th minute he struck the inside of Rackley-Hayes’ left hand post from fifteen yards with the ball skewing across the goal and spinning out for a goal kick! Fofahan really should have scored here after he had broken through, but instead we went in at the break with the scores level.

I felt we had shaded the first half, but at 1-1, there was also the potential for a fifth straight 2-2 draw that no one would have wanted, as it would have meant that the tie would be decided on penalties instead! We then had an early scare in the second half as Brazier and Witter got in each other’s way while trying to effect a clearance, but we just about got away with it and went back in front for the second time in the 55th minute after Brazier made tracks down the right, before cutting back and delivering a decent cross that Oblitey attacked. His header struck a defender but rebounded into his path and he drilled the ball low into the corner from just seven yards out, giving Rackley-Hayes no chance.

Fofahan forced a good save from a narrow angle by Rackley-Hayes before we had to reshuffle the pack after Gillfillian-Waul was replaced by Luke Miller with Fofahan moving to the left wing instead. This was our first substitution of the day, but by the end of the match all four of our starting defenders would be off the field! Romer would be one of those, but before he departed, he capped a fine performance with a run on the left wing and a low delivery in for Green to strike at goal, but Rackley-Hayes made a superb save with his right boot to keep the close range shot out.

Witter picked up a yellow card for time-wasting but in the 79th minute Gould went in high on Romer and received a straight red card for his challenge, which also caused the obligatory sixteen man scuffle! Toby Young came on in relief of Romer after his own spell out with injury and we made the game safe in the 86th minute with a great move down the right where Oblitey collected the ball and sent it square to the supporting Craig Dundas, but he cleverly dummied the ball which sold the defender completely and left Fofahan through on goal, although he still cut back to beat someone before drilling the ball low past Rackley-Hayes from 12 yards to make it 3-1 to the Salts.

There were more chances as the ten men tried to get back into the game, but we were picking them off and a clever pass put Fofahan through, although he chose to pass instead of shooting from eight yards and it came to nothing. I don’t think anyone in the ground would have blamed our winger if he had tried to get his hat trick, but it was a selfless decision and he almost turned provider again in the fourth minute of injury time when his deep delivery from the left wing was headed in by Green from six yards, only for the offside flag to be raised against him.

Still, by the end of the match we were fairly comfortable winners and whilst we will see Berks County again in the League Cup in January, we now look forward to an appearance in the Second Round, or last 128, for the first time since 2017/18 when we were edged out 3-2 after extra time at Whitstable Town. The draw comes out around Monday lunchtime and there are some very good teams left in the draw that would be nice to avoid; Jersey Bulls, AFC Whyteleafe and Fleet Town amongst them, and I haven’t even mentioned the top teams in Sussex and Kent yet (including Whitstable again!). But this is a competition in which we have a prominent history, so it’s just great to still be involved in it, fifty years after that very first amazing run.

Epsom & Ewell: Faebian Witter, Ethan Brazier, Kionte Gillfillian-Waul, Adam Green (c), David Romer, Anthony Nazareth, Ali Fofahan, Craig Dundas, Carl Oblitey, Kailan North, Ethan Nelson-Roberts

Subs: Luke Miller for Gillfillian-Waul (59), Conrad Essilfie-Conduah for Nazareth (64), Toby Young for Romer (84), Luke Taylor for Brazier (91)

Report Source: www.eefconline.co.uk