Balham 2-2 Epsom and Ewell FC. Combined Counties League – Premier Division South. Wednesday 2nd October 2024.

We secured a 2-2 draw against lowly placed Balham on Wednesday evening after coming from behind twice with a pair of goals from Captain Adam Green. This result was more notable when you realise that we played with ten men from the 27th minute.

Our club somewhat naively advertised this match as “thrilling” even before it took place, in some rather strange, almost desperate attempt to get supporters to come and watch, but they were coming anyway and 81 were present, many of which had made the journey over to Tooting & Mitcham United’s Imperial Fields, where Balham currently ground share, to watch this contest on a pitch that had dealt comfortably with all the recent rain and a match just twenty four hours previously.

However, this match was definitely not “thrilling”. It was intriguing and even eventful at times with plenty of cards issued to both teams, but it was also bitty, stop-start, niggly and lacking in quality as a clearly low on confidence “home” team were given the one man advantage and took the lead twice, but couldn’t hold on in either case, and over the ninety minutes, I felt that we were the better team and would have won this match, had we retained a full complement of players.

This match was our second consecutive away League match played at the same venue, following our win over Tooting & Mitcham United three weeks previously, which was only the ninth time that this has happened in club history, and the first since 1998. We only made one change with David Romer keeping his place after he had come on for Reece Tierney midway through the second half of Saturday’s match against Horley Town. Tierney was on the bench but would not be involved in this contest.

An early Green free kick was punched away by John Ross in the Balham goal before our opponents sent an early volley over our crossbar that they probably should have scored. However, on the quarter hour mark we did the same after Ethan Nelson-Roberts set up Anthony Nazareth but he blazed over from just ten yards with just the keeper to beat.

The game took a serious turn in the 27th minute when Fabian Nunes won a free kick in the middle of the park, but despite having won this he inexplicably chose to kick out at his opponent in front of the referee, who had no choice but to issue the red card. This will keep him out for the next three matches from next Monday, meaning he will be ineligible for both the League Cup tie and our F.A. Vase tie in addition to the League match again Fleet Town on Saturday week.

Eventually the free kick was taken and although Nelson-Roberts was somewhat harshly pulled up for a foul, it’s still worth reporting as his header produced a world class save from Ross, who somehow guided the downward header back up and over the bar despite being on the ground. A truly incredible save, even if the goal wouldn’t have counted. Ross wouldn’t have known that at the time.

Inevitably, Balham were then spurred on by the present of the extra man and a long range strike from an angle by Idir Kermoud was tipped away from the top corner by Dan O’Donovan. The corner was half cleared, only for Carl Oblitey to concede a foul out wide and from this in the 36th minute, the delivery to the near post was headed powerfully past our keeper by Maxwell Emmery from just ten yards out to give them the lead.

Things looked grim at this point. Balham had only one League win all season and that had come way back on opening day 10th August against the other team in the bottom two in Spelthorne Sports. Fortunately, and maybe crucially, we were back on terms soon after. There was a coming together between Rayjon Moore for Balham and our own Ethan Brazier, both of whom picked up yellow cards, but from the long O’Donovan free kick, Oblitey headed the ball on and a defender missed his clearance, leaving Green through and he slotted the ball with his weaker left foot beyond the exposed Ross into the far corner from just eight yards out in the 39th minute.

Romer held a player back and picked up a yellow card just before the break and we nearly started the second half with a bang as Luke Miller broke through with just thirty seconds on the clock, but from 18 yards out he guided his shot about a foot wide of the Balham keeper’s left hand post. Balham then seized on this to grab the lead once again in the 52nd minute and whilst Moore was the scorer, this goal came about mostly as a result of a superb free kick from the Balham Captain Luke Hedges, who curled the ball towards the top corner from twenty yards, striking the underside of the crossbar and leaving Moore the simplest of jobs to tap the ball across the line from a few feet out with O’Donovan still on the ground. Some marking would have been nice, but it’s the old adage of following the ball in, because you never know if the ball will come back to you!

Again though, the home side weren’t able to hold on for long and just ten minutes after conceding, we were level. Nelson-Roberts did well, while positioned out on the right wing for a change and his pinpoint cross was headed in from close range by Green who outjumped his defender and gave Ross no chance.

The remaining half an hour contained very little to write about, although Hedges picked up a pair of yellow cards in quick succession to reduce Balham to ten men in the final minute of normal time. Ross made another fine save to keep our substitute Jason Bloor out with an outstretched leg in the closing minutes after another substitute Ali Fofahan had set him up, and in the final seconds of the match an O’Donovan free kick from the half way line was met by the head of Green just six yards out but unchallenged, although Ross was down well to prevent our Captain claiming a hat trick.

And maybe we would have deserved the win too. Make no mistake, if Balham continue at this rate, they will go down. An indication of their ambition came after the final whistle when Ross commented to some supporters standing near to us that “at least we didn’t lose”. I’m not sure how they expect to escape the drop if they are unable to take three points from one of the teams in the bottom half, when they are at home, leading twice and with a player advantage!

From our perspective, we showed plenty of work rate and the draw moved us up to twelfth place, which equals the best position we have been in the League since the opening day of last season. We have now lost just one match in our last eight and this was also the first point we had ever gained against Balham who had beaten us in all four previous meetings. However, discipline needs to be improved amid a flurry of cards late in the match, that if I counted correctly, will leave both clubs on a charge of failing to control their players, with the obligatory heavy Surrey FA fine. For sure the referee appeared to lose a some control of the game, but the players weren’t helping him and the game became quite attritional.

Sometimes “attritional” is a good thing. Our players certainly needed to battle across every inch of the field, having lost the man so early and we showed lots of spirit in fighting back to equalise twice. However, in that final half hour the football suffered as a result at a time when I felt Balham were there for the taking. Our next two encounters against the high-flying Redhill and Fleet Town will give us a better idea of where our final position in the table will be, but based on this match, and whilst more points are obviously required still, there are currently no dangers of relegation for our boys, even if it was only a point claimed on the night.

Epsom & Ewell: Dan O’Donovan, Ethan Brazier, Kionte Gillfillian-Waul, Adam Green (c), David Romer, Anthony Nazareth, Luke Miller, Craig Dundas, Carl Oblitey, Fabio Nunes, Ethan Nelson-Roberts

Subs: Ali Fofahan for Oblitey (82), Jason Bloor for Nelson-Roberts (86)

Report Source: www.eefconline.co.uk

Battersea Ironsides 19 Sutton & Epsom 19. Saturday 28th September

A year ago the 2023-4 Ironsides vintage were on top of the table having opened their
account with 80 points against Gravesend and followed that up with bonus point wins over Sidcup
and the Cornish. This current Battersea brew have been battle hardened and forged into steel by a
trio of nail-biting finishes. Unbeaten at Garratt Green with a one-point and a three-point victory
over Thurrock and Beckenham but bettered by three on the road at Reeds Weybridge. For the
high scoring visitors it was a case of wanting to return to winning ways. At the final whistle, after a
gripping match, the sides could not be separated as the scoreboard read 19-19.
Players and spectators alike palavered peacefully onwards into the unclouded jollity of the
afternoon. Sutton with the slope and the wind in their favour were unleashed by Freddy Bunting’s
perfectly flighted kick off. The first foray to the Battersea 22 was led by Ewan McTaggart who is
fast becoming a most prominent feature in the S&E pack. The lock forward might be lacking in
steatopygia, that comforting feature for Number 8s of yesteryear, but he makes up for that
deficiency with his athleticism around the park. In reply a penalty and subsequent lineout provided
the hosts with their first attacking platform. Outside centre Charles Jacobs’ break was supported
by hooker Oliver Lewis before Jacobs carried again. Battersea spun it wide and looked favourites
to score in the corner but a wonderful covering tackle by captain Bunting led to a hopeful offload
inside which was poached by Gareth O’Brien who was felled by a high tackle. It would not be the
only occasion that the Black & White line under severe pressure would be relieved by the impatient
hosts conceding a costly penalty.
On the quarter hour Battersea Ironsides were again guilty of failing to convert pressure
into points. Awarded a brace of penalties in quick succession from a scrum and then a lineout they
were in prime position five metres from the Sutton line. The Rugby Lane forwards refused to yield
and the ball was sent to the flank. With defenders dwindling in numbers the hosts were stopped
agonisingly close and the ball-carrier executed the most unsubtle of double movements to reach
over the line. The observant Mr Howe again awarded Sutton the sweet succour of a penalty. From
a certain try conceded, a moment later, Freddy Bunting was pouring a sack load of salt into the
gaping wound by calmly notching his first penalty of the afternoon to give Sutton a 3-0 lead.
Buoyed by this success Gareth O’Brien made a stunning strike to the Home XV’s 22 . The ball was
recycled and sent wide where Ironsides’ 10 Charles Stuart nearly intercepted and both sides were
left to rue their chances.
With the half hour fast approaching Gibson replaced Mount in the S&E front row and made
an immediate impact with a rampaging carry from a lineout. Soon after Freddy Bunting was
admiring his second success of the afternoon as his team extended their advantage to 6-0. The
effrontery of the lead despite having less territory and possession spurred the Garratt Park team to
greater heights. For the third time an error, with a try looking a distinct possibility, ended an
attack but this time the knock on was not fatal as Battersea were brought back for their penalty.
The green shirts piled in under the Black & White’s posts before releasing the backs and winger
Ewan Magee scored in the corner. Charles Stuart regally converted from the touchline to take a 7-
6 lead. To pile pelion on ossa S&E lost Matt Whitaker to injury and Ben Green entered the fray.
There was still time left in the first period for Sutton & Epsom to restore their lead when
Freddy Bunting opted for a kick at goal from within his own half with the final play. It had perfect
direction but just lacked the yardage. The sides turned around with Battersea leading 7-6. For the
second period the hosts would enjoy not only the topographical advantage but also any favours
from the wind. There was the possibility that the cultured boot of Charles Stuart might be the
significant factor for the remainder of the contest and that Sutton’s superb defensive resolve might
be tested in extremis during the second half.
The tactical kicking game was initiated from the outset with a bout of kick tennis that
ended in Sutton’s favour courtesy of a superior offering by Gareth O’Brien. That the boot might
have primacy over the running game was amply demonstrated after a couple of minutes when the
dangerous Jacobs shunned the opportunity to run the ball back but rifled a marvellous kick to the

22. As the forwards wrestled for supremacy, the commitment, intensity of carrying and tackling
    was ratcheted up another notch by both packs. Equally the back divisions marshalled their
    defences as both XVs went in search for the vital opening score of the half. After 15 minutes it
    took an astutely angled grubber from Freddy Bunting that bounced up perfectly for winger Austin
    Bell to break the deadlock. It was a classic example of sporting vision, that priceless ability to see
    in a split second what others do not in order to create the sublime moment. A majestic touchline
    conversion by Bunting bisected the uprights and S&E led 13-7.
    Sutton held the upper hand for five minutes. The Ironsides forced S&E to their line with a
    probing kick forcing a lineout ten metres out. Clean ball and a well executed catch and drive saw
    the hosts trundle irresistibly over the line for their second try. Trailing by a solitary point Charles
    Stuart’s conversation oversaw the restoration of their lead by 14-13. As is so often the case the
    opposition were given an early opportunity with a penalty from the restart. The Black & Whites
    owed their chance for the lead to a thunderous tackle from flanker Ben Tame. There was a
    moment of confusion when the height of the Bunting kick exceeded the diminutive stature of the
    Battersea uprights but Sutton & Epsom now inched ahead by 16-14. Perhaps distracted by that
    uncertainty the restart sailed out on the full and Sutton scrummaged on halfway. Moments later
    there was another indication of the tension telling. An Ironside queried Mr Howe’s interpretation of
    the laws in a tone that was not appreciated and the referee ushered the defenders 10 metres
    back. If loose lips sink ships then loquacious rugby players cost three points. Freddy Bunting
    added a fourth penalty to his tally for Sutton to lead 19-14 with a dozen minutes to go plus the
    extras for stoppages.
    Battersea now went in search of points. Their first sortie was cut short when they lost
    possession on the Sutton 22 and Austin Bell cleared magnificently to the opponent’s half. S&E
    were on the attack but were thwarted by a Charles Stuart interception and kick that rolled into
    their 22. Austin Bell covered well to secure the ball on the deck and the Black & Whites were gifted
    a penalty as a chasing Ironside naively fell on the prostrate Bell. As the game entered time added
    on it was one-way traffic in favour of Battersea. The visitors were magnificent in defence and
    thought they had earned a turnover but the hosts were awarded the scrum. Closer and closer the
    Garratt Park pack advanced to the posts. Avoiding the risk of being held up over the line, with
    admirable patience under the circumstances, they finally forced their way over by the right hand
    upright. 19 all and the conversion was a mere formality for a kicker of Stuart’s stature. However,
    Charles Stuart, endured the type of unexpected misfortune that would have been familiar to not
    only Aeschylus but also his historical namesake as the conversion was missed. Shortly afterwards
    the referee concluded proceedings and the sides shared the points for a 19-19 draw.
    It was a fitting result for two teams that had given their all. For Sutton Ben Green’s
    performance off the bench was redolent of Ed Burton at Guildford in 2015. Green’s previous
    contributions had been predominantly inconsequential minutes off the bench but he revelled in the
    opportunity at a serious stint at Number 8. He carried with aggression, tackled powerfully and
    symbolised an outstanding effort by the Sutton pack. No doubt this Battersea side will be
    contenders for promotion again this season as they have quality in all departments.
    The league now takes a week off and the action returns to Rugby Lane when league
    leaders Sidcup visit on 12 th October. What a difference a year makes, on their last trip in November
    2023 they arrived bottom of the league and level on points with Sutton & Epsom with both clubs
    having only a solitary win to their names in seven outings.
    Sutton & Epsom
    O’Brien, Watkins, Scott, Elliott, Bell, Bunting ©, Munford, Mount, Gordon, Boaden, Glanville,
    McTaggart, Tame, Jones & Whitaker.
    Replacements: Gibson, Green & Unused: Symonds.
    Battersea Ironsides
    Baker, Magee, Jacobs, Roberts, Craig, Stuart, Barnard, Chetwynd, Lewis, Batstone, MacPherson,
    Walton, Dollard, Chitan & Martin.
    Replacements: Borup, Humphris & Diamond.

Epsom and Ewell FC 2-2 Horley Town. Combined Counties League – Premier Division South. Saturday 28th September 2024.

An entertaining contest took place at King George’s Field on Saturday and although the visitors took a share of the points from this 2-2 draw with a late equaliser, it would have been harsh on them if they had lost, as both teams played their part in a fully committed and competitive encounter.

An official attendance of 94 was advised for this match, even though only 77 were counted half way through the first half, but maybe an inflation of the crowd was inevitable this week, following the poor number of attendees for the midweek win over Hilltop. Either way, our team went into this match in good form, having won five of our last six matches and bearing this in mind, the figure remains a disappointing one.

We made three changes to our line up after the win over Hilltop with Anthony Nazareth coming in for his first start in place of the injured Toby Young, while further forward Fabio Nunes came back in ahead of Luke Taylor. The final change was with Dan O’Donovan back in goal ahead of Faebian Witter, who was destined to be on the bench until he injured himself in the warm up. He was then replaced in the line up just before the kick off by young defender David Romer. He was joined there by fit again Ali Fofahan, following his injury at Tooting & Mitcham United and also Jason Bloor who had scored on his debut before missing the last couple of matches due to a holiday.

The visitors were first to fashion an opportunity when a right wing cross was met with a far post volley, but the ball struck a defender and was cleared. Horley dragged a free kick wide from a good position, but in the ninth minute we created a good chance of our own as Carl Oblitey, showing no effects of the hamstring twinge he suffered four days previously, beat two men and as he drew other defenders towards him, he sent the pass to the right where Luke Miller was in a large amount of space. Our tricky winger would usually bury this chance, but on this occasion he lashed it straight at George Hyde in the Horley goal from just inside the penalty area and he parried the ball to safety.

Then just a minute later a visiting defender sliced the ball straight into Oblitey’s path, but he also sent his shot too close to Hyde, who blocked the ball up in the air and was alert to get up quickly and claw the ball away as it threatened to cross the goal line.

We were now well and truly in this match, yet surprisingly we then went behind in the 18th minute and it might well have been avoidable. Nazareth cut his head in a collision and had to leave the field to await the arrival of a clean shirt, which for some reason was still back in the changing room and he was still off the field when a right wing delivery was met by a close range header from former Salt Lewis Pearch that gave O’Donovan no chance.

Another cross was just headed wide by Mason Seagroatt as the visitors threatened to get a second goal and they then sent a low volley just wide of O’Donovan’s right hand post. The frustrating thing about this last chance was that we had chosen to attack before losing the ball, yet by kicking the ball out of play, we would have been up to eleven men again. Instead, Nazareth was left standing there on the sideline and waiting to come back on, so to have conceded at this stage would have been a really serious error. Finally after nearly seven minutes off the field, our bandaged up defender finally returned to the field of play. It was all a bit Sunday League!

But with eleven men again we threatened to level things up when Oblitey sent Miller through in the left hand channel, from where his powerful shot just clipped a defender, sending the ball onto the crossbar and out for a corner. Then from the Adam Green corner, the ball skipped straight through everyone before hitting Ethan Nelson-Roberts at the far post only a couple of yards out, and as the ball rebounded back off him and into the danger area, Nazareth skied the ball from just eight yards out.

Horley were also making chances and a good ball down the right sat up nicely for Pearch to strike a volley towards goal, which O’Donovan just plucked out of the air. Then we had a bit of an issue after Nazareth was accused of stepping on a player. Obviously, we were a long way from the action, and he may well have caught him, but the referee either decided that it was accidental, or maybe he didn’t get a great view of it, so no further action was taken. From the subsequent free kick O’Donovan got his hands to the ball but couldn’t hold on and required a defensive clearance before we could relax. We nearly equalised right on the half when a deep Nelson-Roberts cross was met by a volley from Miller, but it was from a narrow angle and the ball zipped across the six yard area and out for a goal kick.

A goal down at the break, and with the knowledge that we had missed some really good chances and still hadn’t managed to score in the opening half of any of our ten League matches this season, it was important that we didn’t concede again, but it nearly happened in the 50th minute when Pearch set up another former Salt in Warren Colman, but the shot at goal had the sting taken out of it by the covering Ethan Brazier and the ball dribbled tamely through to O’Donovan.

The visitors continued to seek a second and a loose header from Reece Tierney forced Nazareth to try and reach the second ball, which he failed to do; colliding with a Horley striker and picking up a yellow card for his troubles. Fortunately, Aaron Moody’s free kick from twenty yards was straightforward for O’Donovan.

After this wobbly start to the second half we began to get a foothold in the contest and Oblitey set up Miller for a low shot, although Hyde made a decent save. Then Romer came on for his debut in place of Tierney. It was odd to see the new boy taking the field as the first substitute, seeing as he hadn’t even been in the sixteen man squad originally, so I have to assume that Tierney had suffered an injury.

He didn’t have much defending to do for a while as we continued to press. Nunes saw his shot take a slight deflection before Hyde was able to palm it beyond the far post on the hour and from the corner Nunes then saw his low shot blocked, but not held by Hyde, although he was up quickly to block the close range effort from Nelson-Roberts just wide. Finally, from the second corner, the ball reached Miller at the far post and his pinpoint cross back into the danger area was met by Oblitey eight yards out with a thumping header that flew into the net in the 61st minute for our equaliser.

We were well on top at this stage and Nelson-Roberts did really well on the left to turn his man and run in, sending an early delivery for the incoming Oblitey, but he had more time than he realised and snatched at the ball, slicing it wide from eighteen yards. Then Nunes saw his shot blocked by Hyde’s legs and although it sat up kindly for Green, his header didn’t have enough power on it to beat Hyde.

We continued to attack and Miller received a great pass from midfield, only for his cross to be just ahead of Oblitey. Miller was then caught by a defender after his delivery but the referee decided that it wasn’t worth a penalty, even though our man was adamant that he had been fouled. Fortunately, it wouldn’t make much difference as Bloor had come on in the 71st minute and within 120 seconds he made the breakthrough for his second goal in his second match. It was a nice move, coming from a throw on that Green flicked on, and Oblitey cleverly dummied, which gave Bloor a bit of space and he drilled the ball in at the near post from the edge of the area with Hyde unsighted to give us the lead.

Craig Dundas was next to test Hyde, and although the shot was well saved, Miller then blazed the loose ball high and wide from fairly close in. As time began to tick down though, Horley started to make some chances. Brazier picked up a yellow card for a foul that led to a bit of handbags between the players. One delivery whizzed across our six yard box, before an 85th minute Matt Rapson cross to the far post was met by a looping header from Seagroatt that O’Donovan couldn’t reach and Horley were level at 2-2.

Both teams had one good chance in the closing minutes. Horley sent a ball in from the left that was just ahead of their incoming striker, while substitute Fofahan was put through on goal, but Hyde was out quickly to block the shot. Overall though, a draw was a fair result, and whilst the visiting keeper Hyde was the busier of the two keepers, our lack of clinicality meant that we hadn’t done enough to deserve the win and we now face a trip to Tooting & Mitcham United on Wednesday where we will face Balham in our next attempt to get three points.

The final word goes to the referee Mr Sotimirin. I have not always been a fan of some of his performances, going all the way back to 2008, but he let the game flow nicely and although the players occasionally threatened to take advantage of his leniency at times, his handling ensured that this was one of the most entertaining matches of the season so far and credit is due for this.

Epsom & Ewell: Dan O’Donovan, Ethan Brazier, Kionte Gillfillian-Waul, Adam Green (c), Reece Tierney, Anthony Nazareth, Luke Miller, Craig Dundas, Carl Oblitey, Fabio Nunes, Ethan Nelson-Roberts

Subs: David Romer for Tierney (59), Jason Bloor for Nunes (71), Ali Fofahan for Oblitey (88)

Report Source: www.eefconline.co.uk

The finale meeting of the Summer Flat season at Epsom Downs arrives on Sunday with a seven-race card to bring the campaign to a close. 

Racing gets underway at 1.45pm with a class four nursery contest before the action – and the season – rounds off at 5.15pm with a class four handicap. 

Read below to discover the latest tips and a full meeting preview for Epsom’s final card of the year on Sunday courtesy of Racing TV. 

The opening contest on Sunday’s card sees a small field of five head to the start for the class four jersey contest (1.45). The Paul and Oliver Cole-trained White Chapel Road could be the play in the opener, getting off the mark in a Brighton maiden 27 days ago in fine style and he should be right up there again if showing the same form. Previous course and distance winner Pietro can fill the second spot and rates the chief threat. 

Race two on the card (2.20) is another five runner contest, this time in a class two conditions stakes over the extended mile around Epsom. Anniversary holds an entry in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Doncaster next month and this could be an ideal prep run for the Ralph Beckett runner, off the mark on debut at Newmarket six weeks ago so is the clear horse to beat here. 

Sene runners aged between three and four years old will tackle race three on the card (2.55) over the one mile and two furlong trip. Rickshaw made a promising start for trainer Harry Charlton when landed a third in a Pontefract maiden ten days ago and should be in with a big shout here stepping up in trip. Of his rivals, Sir Lowry’s Pass rates the main danger, a winner of a Goodwood novice earlier this month despite missing the break that day. 

Mark Of Gold looks to be the one to beat in the fourth race on the card (3.30), returning to the Flat having been pulled up in a handicap hurdle at Sandown in April for trainer Gary Moore and back on a handy looking mark as well, will take all the beating. Stablemate Miller Spirit can run him closer, a three-time winner in 2024 and produced a career-best when winning at this track just 17 days ago. 

Nine runners will tackle the one mile and two furlong class three handicap at 4.05 with preference heading the way of Andrew Balding’s handicapping newcomer Winston’s Tipple, who got off the mark in a six runner novice at Lingfield last time out and has the eye-catching jockey booking of Oisin Murphy to boot. Qitaal looked better than ever when scoring under the now retired Franny Norton at Chester on his last run and can take the second spot here as he has to defy a 9lb rise in the weights. 

The penultimate on the card is up next at 4.40 and Arkhalia Flynn is taken to get back to winning ways having only been narrowly denied in his hat trick bid last time out at Haydock for trainer Jack Channon. 

Finally, the card and the season at Epsom comes to a close with an 11-runner handicap in class four over the seven furlong trip (5.15). Preference in the finale goes to Hodler, who has a good record at this track including a win over course and distance 17 days ago for which he is penalised 6lb in the weights but given how impressive his last run was, looks the type to be able to shoulder the rise with ease. 

Epsom selections – Sunday

1.45 – White Chapel Road

2.20 – Anniversary

2.55 – Rickshaw

3.30 – Mark Of Gold

4.05 – Winston’s Tipple

4.40 – Arkhalia Flynn

5.15 – Hodler

Horses racing Image: Credit Paul. CC BY 2.0

Epsom and Ewell 4-1 Hilltop. Combined Counties League Cup – First Round. Tuesday 24th September 2024.

Two goals, two assists and a position on the Hall of Fame for being one of our fifty top goal scorers in club history! Not a bad day’s work for Luke Miller, who scored his thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth goals for the Salts, whilst also providing the deliveries for our first two goals, scored by Ethan Nelson-Roberts as we swept aside the challenge from Hilltop FC by four goals to one in the First Round of the Combined Counties League Cup at the KGF on Tuesday night. Hilltop are a club of mostly Somalian origin and currently play in the North Division of our League where they, like us had registered exactly a point per game, so a close contest was expected.

The scoreline might indicate that this was a comfortable win, but it was a slightly flattering one as possession was fairly even over the ninety minutes, although we were far more dangerous in front of goal where the visitors looked a little wobbly, and we appeared far more solid at the back. In fact, we are starting to look like quite a good team right now and even the early loss of Carl Oblitey to a hamstring injury didn’t derail our attacking threat in this match.

We made three changes to our starting line-up following our mostly comfortable victory over Seaford Town on Saturday with Reece Tierney replacing the injured Stefan Aiwone and getting his first start since suffering a head injury against Jersey Bulls, whilst Luke Taylor also came in further forward for Fabian Nunes who is still working his way back from injury and was on the bench. Also watching from the sidelines was Dan O’Donovan as Faebian Witter was given a rare outing between the posts.

The visitors started brightly and passed the ball around nicely. Early indications were that this might be a long night, especially when Oblitey limped off, although he was replaced mostly as a precaution, with a more important League fixture coming up on Saturday. We conceded one of many free kicks around the edge of the area, but Witter was alert to reach the strike from Abukar Mohammed on the 15 minute mark.

And a minute later we were ahead. A pass out to Miller resulted in a dangerous low delivery that just eluded two of our players coming in, but was met just beyond the far post by Nelson-Roberts, who was too strong for his full back and slotted the ball past Hansel Coelho at his near post from about four yards out. Witter made another low save but we extended our lead in the 31st minute when Miller provided another deep delivery and Nelson-Roberts got ahead of his man to head the ball downwards and up into the net, just inside the post from around five yards out.

Tierney was alert to block a shot from the visitors but in the 35th minute we conceded in rather odd circumstances. It was hard to see exactly what happened, but it looked as though Witter came out wide to clear a ball and struck it against a team mate, leaving the easiest of finishes for Tahir Showkat to roll the loose ball into the empty net.

We responded well to the goal though. Substitute Sean Anderson made a good run, forcing Coelho into a save from a narrow angle, and although the ball fell nicely for Adam Green, his shot from eighteen yards went across the goal and out for a goal kick. However, in the 45th minute Green was largely responsible for our third goal as he put Coelho under severe pressure and his clearance went straight to Miller on the edge of the penalty area, and he guided the ball straight back past the keeper into the far corner of the goal to give us a 3-1 lead at the interval.

This goal placed Miller into the club Hall of Fame. For those who are unaware of this at: www.eefconline.co.uk it shows the top fifty players in club history in terms of appearances, goals and clean sheets. Miller thus joined a pair of players on 35 goals in our former Player/Coach Sid Faggetter who scored his goals in just forty matches in the 1950/51 season and former Captain and appearance record holder Graham Morris who scored them over 658 appearances from 1990-2004!

Seven minutes into the second half he had surpassed both of these players with his second of the night and again Green was the provider as he robbed a defender and set Miller up in stride, from where he ran in and clipped the ball across Coelho into the bottom corner.

With almost half of the match remaining, it might come as a surprise that this goal was the last of the match, although there were more chances for both sides. Nunes had been on the field for seconds when he had a shot blocked by a defender, while Witter was able to pick a shot out that was heading for the top corner. Another free kick from Mohammed forced Witter into his best save of the night, getting down low to push the ball away and then being ready to make a second save from an angle as the ball came back in. Our keeper needed a little help from a defender after failing to hold the next free kick from Benet Hashani, before a left wing cross from the visitors bounced off the top of our crossbar and away.

We then wasted a corner, which led to a rapid counter from Hilltop, but Witter was able to make another good low save to keep the score at 4-1. At the other end Coelho nearly dropped a shot from Nunes over the goal line after parrying it up in the air, but was able to recover without serious alarm and the only other concern came when substitute Niall Stillwell sent a header forward on the left where Coelho got to the ball to clear just ahead of Nelson-Roberts, who felt the full force of his challenge and limped off in the 88th minute. Electing not to put O’Donovan into the outfield, we had used our other four substitutes and so finished the remainder of the match with ten men.

The visitors, as you might expect with the player advantage, held the balance of the possession in those final minutes and another substitute Anthony Nazareth had to head the ball off the goal line after Witter had punched the ball against an opponent which had then looped up, while Ethan Brazier picked up a late yellow card for two fouls in quick succession. Nunes had the final word with a swerving strike from thirty yards, but Coelho kept the ball out and the final whistle confirmed our progress to the last 32 of the competition, which is scheduled to take place around the middle of October.

This was our fifth win in six matches and it was just a shame that only 40 spectators were in attendance; our smallest home crowd since February 2020 when we were playing our home matches at the remote High Road ground in Chipstead. I was provided with various excuses for the small number, ranging from Sky TV (when isn’t there a match on Sky?) and that they had been refused permission by the League to reduce the entry cost, but I don’t buy this at all. The League has a minimum entry rule, but we already charge well over that amount and could easily have reduced it at any time without requiring permission.

Quite simply, there is always an excuse or something being “spun” at our club, and there remains no sincere attempt by anyone in an official position to get more of our own supporters in. There are a number of things they could do, and engaging with the ones they currently have would be a start; something they have failed to do over the last three years. A few random pictures of player huddles on Instagram might get a few “likes”, while a few Colts coming along on a few Saturdays might boost the numbers artificially, but neither help our short term plight. Three long-serving supporters were present at this match, who have in recent years all been on the Club Committee and were keen to help, yet were forced off because they held some different opinions to those who do not want to hear them. This remains a huge mistake by those currently running the club, who seem to think that they are not answerable to supporters. Whilst a new ground, if it ever occurred, would undoubtedly bring in new support for a while, you have to ask how the club would retain them for more than a few months once the novelty has worn off.

We host Horley Town on Saturday in an important League match; a club that have engaged with their local community in recent months and had two attendances well over 500 at the end of last season because they visited and invited all their local school children in with their parents. Whilst it is slightly more difficult for our club to do this as we can’t recoup anything for the bar and catering, a crowd of this number would make a huge difference. Horley’s attendances have been similar to ours in recent seasons, so there is no reason why we couldn’t adopt a similar idea, and right now they would see a good team in decent form, which always helps!

Epsom & Ewell: Faebian Witter, Ethan Brazier, Kionte Gillfillian-Waul, Adam Green (c), Reece Tierney, Toby Young, Luke Miller, Craig Dundas, Carl Oblitey, Luke Taylor, Ethan Nelson-Roberts

Subs: Sean Anderson for Oblitey (13), Fabian Nunes for Taylor (54), Anthony Nazareth for Young (69), Niall Stillwell for Dundas (81)

Report Source: www.eefconline.co.uk

Epsom and Ewell FC 3-2 Seaford Town FC. Combined Counties League – Premier Division South. Saturday 21st September 2024.

Although ultimately irrelevant, two Seaford Town goals in the 86th and 88th minutes would be the memory of this match that most supporters will have taken as they headed home, which was a pity as this was the most dominant performance I had seen from an Epsom and Ewell team since we returned to Step Five in 2023. We won this F.A. Vase contest by three goals to two in the end, although 5-0 wouldn’t have been a score line that the visitors could complain about. When considering that they brought a supporters coach to this match, and that we had around a dozen children in the ground as mascots, together with a number of parents, the attendance of 78 on a hot sunny afternoon was an extremely disappointing one for such a prestigious match.

Two changes were made to our starting eleven after Tuesday’s defeat to high-flying Knaphill, with Ethan Nelson-Roberts and fit again Fabio Nunes coming in for Luke Taylor and the absent Sean Anderson. Jason Bloor put in a fine appearance from the bench in that match and may have started here, had he not been on holiday! Taylor dropped to the bench where he was alongside a pair of debutants in Niall Stillwell and Anthony Nazareth. Stillwell spent much of last season at Guildford City, where he stood out despite their disappointing season. He is also my boy’s P.E. teacher! Nazareth played for us briefly in pre-season but has now joined after spending time at Cobham. Both would make their debuts later in the match.

We went into this match in fairly good form with three wins from our last four matches, but Seaford Town were top of the Southern Combination Division One and were expected to put up a decent fight, even if their main priority is probably a run at promotion. We also carried a strange statistic into this encounter, as we had not scored in the first half of the twelve competitive matches we had played so far, which equalled a record set way back in 1982, starting with our famous F.A. Trophy match at home to Altrincham and concluding with a 2-1 win at St Albans City in our thirteenth match. What we would give to be playing those sort of teams again!

We nearly consigned that stat to the history books as early as the fourth minute as Nunes set up Carl Oblitey for a good strike from close range, but he sent the ball flying into the car park at the Tolworth end. Adam Green then struck a tapped free kick from Nunes wide from twenty yards. The next chance came when Oblitey did well on the right and his delivery was met by a brave low dive from Nelson-Roberts whose header went just wide.

We were completely dominant at this stage and a Green corner was met by a header from Stefan Aiwone that keeper Wester Young did well to keep out before Nunes sent the loose ball wide from only a few yards out. Young is advancing in years now but was part of the strong Molesey line up that used to play us around fifteen years ago before moving to East Sussex and playing for Hailsham Town against us in recent seasons. Young punched away another good delivery from Green before Oblitey finally got the ball past him from Nelson-Roberts’ low left wing delivery, only to see the Assistant’s flag raised against him.

Nelson-Roberts then hit the crossbar from twenty yards out with a curling strike from out wide and Oblitey then cushioned a header back for Green to strike at goal, but Young parried the ball away to safety. We were half an hour into the match before the visitors even had a half chance when a deep cross had Dan O’Donovan scrambling and he just clawed the ball away just when it looked like it might drop over him, although was relieved to see the incoming striker send the loose ball way over the bar from not that far out.

Aiwone couldn’t get his header on target from a Green corner and Luke Miller was sending in some dangerous deliveries, but it was becoming apparent that we were approaching the half time mark with another blank. Just as I was preparing my half time tweet to the masses, I had to re-write it as Miller’s ball in was sliced into the far top corner of his own net by the Seaford Captain Ryan Knight from about eight yards in the 47th minute and there was no time to restart the first half. Technically, we did still set a new club record in terms of 619 minutes without scoring in the first half, even if we didn’t quite register that thirteenth consecutive half time duck!

But 1-0 was the least we deserved, and it arguably could have been much more. We had to change things around almost immediately after the restart when Aiwone hurt his knee and had to be replaced by Nazareth in the 48th minute. It didn’t stop the flow of traffic though and we extended our lead in the 52nd minute with a superb defence splitting pass from Green that Miller ran onto in the right wing channel. He drew the keeper and struck at goal, only to find a defender had just extended a foot to block the shot, but it fell kindly for him and with Young committed to blocking the previous effort, our tricky winger had the simple job of sliding the ball at an angle into the empty net from eight yards. Miller has now scored thirty-four goals for our club and is one away from joining the club Hall of Fame which shows the top fifty goal scorers in our history and contains some names that regular supporters will know well, like Jamie Byatt, Kyle Hough, Robbie Burns, Daryl Cooper-Smith and Dale Marvell, not to mention the top man himself Tommy Tuite. It is quite an elite group!

Toby Young had a chance from a corner, but the ball hit his back as he jumped and the ball just looped over the bar, before Green saw his strong shot cleared for a corner. Craig Dundas then sent his header wide from that Miller corner as we continued to boss the game completely.

We had a scare in the 62nd minute when O’Donovan, who was probably a bit bored by his lack of action to this point, started to make a number of incursions outside his penalty area and from one of these, his headed clearance just went up in the air behind him and Young had to react quickly to head the ball clear of our goal under pressure from a visiting striker.

But this was an isolated foray into our half and we scored a third goal in the 65th minute when a deep Green corner was reached at full stretch by Nelson-Roberts at the far post. His shot struck the foot of Young’s left hand post, but rebounded kindly across goal, where Nazareth reacted first to poke the ball over the line from a couple of yards out.

Frustration boiled over for the visitors and Lewis Hallett picked up a yellow card for going straight through the back of Oblitey, although our centre-forward then picked up a card of his own just a few minutes later, although it wasn’t clear what for, and even Oblitey seemed perplexed by the decision. Nazareth then sent a header wide as we continued to do most of the work.

However, in the 86th minute the visitors received a lifeline when a long ball out of defence was reached by Josh Wright ahead of O’Donovan who had come a long way out of his goal, leaving their man with the simple job of putting the ball into the empty net. Although it might look as though O’Donovan was at fault here, it is important to question why he felt the need to come so far out of his goal so often in this match. It’s worth noting that Dundas had by this time left the field and we just didn’t seem to be so organised after that point. Two minutes later, a right wing cross was turned in unmarked at the far post by Matt Holland to make the score 3-2.

We still had chances as a couple of substitutes got involved. Taylor sent a header back across Young, only to see the ball drop inches beyond the Seaford crossbar, while Felipe De Lima was booked for an unconvincing fall just outside the penalty area that the referee correctly saw as simulation. In fact, De Lima was probably a little lucky to stay on the field as he clattered into a visiting player in the 96th minute and could easily have picked up a second yellow card. Although the whistle blew as the Seaford player landed, fortunately it was to signify full time!

So it’s now four wins in five matches for our boys and we remain in good form ahead of our League Cup First Round tie at home to Hilltop on Tuesday. It’s also good to report that discipline was much better, following the issues from last Tuesday and now we have to focus a little better on concentration for the full ninety minutes, or it may cost us next time. Overall though, this was a strong performance against a team that I thought would push us far more than they did and obviously credit goes to our boys for restricting them as well as we did.

Monday’s F.A. Vase First Round draw will be released around lunchtime and, as always, we’ll have full details available within minutes of the draw being released on Twitter / X at @EEFCOnline and soon after that at the Epsom and Ewell FC Archive website at: www.eefconline.co.uk That match will take place on Saturday 19th October, unless we are drawn at home, in which case it will probably be the Friday evening as our landlords are at home that day in a League match. That means our next Vase match will take place just one week before the fifty year anniversary of our first ever F.A. Vase match in 1974/75, which ended with an appearance at Wembley Stadium in the first ever Final. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a Vase run to match that!

Epsom & Ewell: Dan O’Donovan, Ethan Brazier, Kionte Gillfillian-Waul, Adam Green (c), Toby Young, Stefan Aiwone, Luke Miller, Craig Dundas, Carl Oblitey, Fabio Nunes, Ethan Nelson-Roberts

Subs: Anthony Nazareth for Aiwone (48), Felipe De Lima for Nunes (63), Niall Stillwell for Young (76), Luke Taylor for Dundas (83)

Report Source: www.eefconline.co.uk

Sutton and Epsom RFC 43 v Old Reigations 48. Saturday 21st September 2024.

It has been a Jekyll & Hyde start to the campaign for Sutton & Epsom. However, the reality
dates back to Epictetus and his motto that has been adopted by coaches from around the globe:
“Control the Controllables”. The one aspect out of your control is the standard of the opposition
and Beckenham last Saturday provided a far sterner test than the opening day Old Colfeians. Last
season Old Reigatian did the double over S&E in a couple of high scoring contests. They started by
winning a fluctuating game at home 35-29 before a first half blitz was the basis of their second
success at Rugby Lane by 38-21. New heights were reached on Saturday with a dizzying 12-try
spectacular with the tries equally distributed as Old Reigatian hung on in a fabulous finale to win
by 48-43 and continue their unbeaten start to the season.
It was a superbly sunny Saturday, firm under foot with a refreshing breeze and all was set
fair for entertaining running rugby and these two sides did not disappoint. The visitors dominated
the early exchanges including their front row winning a penalty at the first scrum. In customary
fashion the front row offender demonstrated his prelapsarian innocence with a look of amazement
at having been penalised. With tenacious defence OR were denied. It was frustrating for Sutton
that their first possession in the backs culminated in an interception near halfway and Harrison
Mitchell running in the opening try that was unconverted for a 5-0 Reigatian lead. After the restart
Adam Bibby’s reward for his excellent chase and tackle was a twisted ankle and being replaced by
Lawrence Elliott for the remaining 70 minutes.

After a dozen minutes S&E were on the scoreboard. Gareth O’Brien initiated the counter
before a powerful carry by Jordan Huie and a probing run by Pete Gordon. Then the backs were
released and the crowd enjoyed the delicate tracery of O’Brien’s weaving run to score under the
posts. Freddy Bunting’s conversion gave the hosts a slender 7-5 lead. In the next 20 minutes
Sutton’s hopes were hampered by discipline. Tom Baldwin willingly accepted a trio of penalties and
the Black & Whites were reduced to 14 when Jordan Huie connected with an opponent in midair.
The yellow card was perhaps not a condign punishment but this law is harsh if not essentially fair.
With the visitors leading 14-7 Glanville and Whitaker rallied the hosts who were awarded a penalty
of their own and Freddy Bunting reduced the lead to 14-10 to OR. Moments later a further 3-point
opportunity was declined and Captain Bunting kicked to touch for a 5-metre lineout. Mount, no
doubt, wearied by the moil of his scrummaging duties delighted at receiving the ball close to the
line and dutifully scored. Despite the balmy temperatures Freddy Bunting was as cool as the
underside of a cucumber and being as hard to rattle as two grapes in a wine glass he converted
from the flank to take a 17-14 lead as the first half entered time added on.

As is frequently witnessed at every level of the game the restart is a vulnerable time for the
team that has just scored. The Black & Whites secured the ball and seemed to have avoided the
fatal error only to concede a penalty on their second sortie. Tom Baldwin made it four from four to
level the score at 17-17. Neither side were content to just play out the first period with parity and
audaciously tried to wrest the advantage from the other. Despite the endeavours of all concerned
there was no addition to the score and the sides turned around level, 17-17. It had been a
commendable effort by Sutton to shackle the Old Reigatian team and restrict them to one try and
they now had the elements in their favour for the second period.

S&E were immediately under the cosh in the second half and were indebted to vital
interventions by Jordan Huie, Alex Mount and Pete Gordon. But the Old Boys would not be denied
and as it was Harrison Mitchell, who again opened the scoring, this time applying the coup de
grâce from closer range. Ten minutes elapsed before the next score which was to be the first of a
Tom Baldwin hat trick. Showing great determination he forced his way over in the corner despite
considerable attention from the defenders and a dubious crowd dropped their remarks into the
understanding air. Though unable to add the extras to his try Tom Baldwin had stretched the lead
to 27-17. Sutton needed a swift reply and that was supplied by the livewire flanker Dan Jones with
the Bunting boot bisecting the uprights the game was once more in the balance with OR leading
S&E 27-24.

The game appeared to have taken on an entirely different complexion, and ended as a
contest, with a sensational 5-minute burst from the men from Geoffrey Knight Fields. When 18-
year-old William Henry Perkin invented by accident the synthetic purple dye, mauveine, in 1856 he
became a multi-millionaire. It appeared that this purple patch of three tries in five minutes would
be equally priceless to Old Reigatian. The hosts muffed the restart and Tom Baldwin dummied
with numbers queuing up to score for his second. The inside centre completed his trio courtesy of
some indecisive defence. Then replacement back William Parker joined the party with the pick of
the tries courtesy of some delightful legerdemain. It was suddenly 48-24 with Tom Baldwin’s
personal tally 33 points. Whilst their opponent’s back play was passing and running in excelsis
Sutton had embraced the arms of Morpheus. The third rapid score would have encouraged the
Rugby Lane faithful to get to the bar before the rush or view the remainder through the leper’s
squint. However, it was the catalyst for the transmogrification of the home XV’s performance.
With ten minutes on the clock the game that was threatening to become a rout became a
spectacular comeback. Sutton to their credit did not panic with reckless play but valued their
possession and waited for the openings. Jordan Huie brought the ball out of his 22 and it was
recycled wide to Lawrence Elliott who stepped inside and broke to halfway before launching a
speculative kick. The ball nestled under the posts and Arun Watkins won the race to touch it down.
The simplest of conversions made it 48-31. Playing with pride and passion the Rugby Lane men
laid siege on their opponents’ line. Finally, the pressure told and Matt Whitaker scored and though
the touchline conversion drifted wide it was 48-36 as the game entered time added on. Ewan
McTaggart demonstrated how to secure the restart and put Sutton on the attack again. Freddy
Bunting saw a gap and accelerated into the Reigatian half. The retreating defence of the Old Boys
conceded a penalty. Without hesitation it was quickly taken and Matt Whitaker was dotting down
under the posts. The rapidly taken conversion was successful and the scoreboard read 43-48.
It was breathless and unbelievable rugby and the passionate crowd had witnessed the
most extraordinary reversal of fortunes. The Black & Whites secured possession and Bunting and
Watkins led the charge to halfway. This time the penalty led to a yellow card and the 14-man Old
Reigatian team were forced into their 22 by Freddy Bunting’s arrowing kick. Then another penalty
and Mr Whinney issued another yellow card with a mortician’s lofty detachment for the irksome
job in hand as OR were set to complete the game with 13 on the pitch. The visitors faced a 5-
metre lineout with no doubt a mixture of emotions from total disbelief to grim determination. To
their eternal credit the visitors defended with heroic valour tackling with ferocity and denying
space until they forced a turnover. The final whistle was greeted with jubilation and relief by Old
Reigatian whilst the Sutton faces were marked deeply with the hieroglyphics of pain.

First and foremost, this was a fabulous game of rugby that did great credit to all who were
involved. The Old Reigatian backs attract a lot of praise, which is thoroughly deserved, but do not
underestimate the front row triumvirate of Messrs Monk, Nestor and Collister who provided an
excellent platform. No doubt the club archivist will be asked if Tom Baldwin broke the record for
most points in a league game. For Sutton the remarkable revival should convince them that they
have the capability to beat anyone in the league when they play their best rugby. Next week the
1 st XV travel to Battersea Ironsides who themselves have enjoyed three close encounters of the
rugby kind so far this campaign with two victories. The kick off will be 3pm at Burntwood Lane and
it will be the first time Sutton have played a league fixture at this venue as last season the
weather meant it was relocated to the Grasshoppers RFC’s synthetic surface.

Sutton & Epsom
O’Brien, Watkins, Scott, Bibby, Huie, Bunting ©, Munford, Mount, Gordon, Boaden, Glanville,
McTaggart, Rea, Jones & Whitaker.
Replacements: Hilton, Green & Elliott.

Old Reigatian
Woodford, Mitchell, Allen, Baldwin, Coyle, Holder, Skinner, Monk, Nestor, Collister, Jones, Franklin-
Talbot, Brooks, Goldsmith & Travers.
Replacements: Lee, Courteney-Walker & Parker.

Photo: Robin Kennedy

Beckenham 29 Sutton & Epsom RFC 14. Saturday 14th September.

Sutton & Epsom arrived at Balmoral Lane as league leaders after a comprehensive
Colfeians victory by 50-7. Beckenham had impressed with a 27-13 triumph of their own over
Reeds Weybridge in their opener. As are the vagaries of availability there were six switches in the
Sutton set up but no new arrivals. Messrs Elliott and Rea were elevated from the bench with Joe
Lovatt starting at 9 to be joined by the experienced quintet of Munford, Whitaker, Mount, Mohr
and Tame. Apologies for absence ranged from concussion to watching the T20 cricket finals at
Edgbaston. Meanwhile, Beckenham’s hat trick hero of Round One, Geordie Boyce, had endured an
Australian Friday night to forget in Cardiff and was absent. After a keenly contested encounter
Beckenham deserved the honours with a bonus point victory by 29-14.

Freddy Bunting kicked off on a beautifully sunny afternoon with a stiff breeze over his
shoulder. After the initial sparring from both attacking units it was S&E that produced the first
chance of the afternoon. A flowing break after a dozen minutes saw Sutton thwarted by foul play 5
metres from glory. The tapped penalty found its way to Matt Whitaker who stretched for the line
but Mr Burchell adjudicated that the ball had not been touched down. Beckenham put themselves
under further pressure by knocking on on their 22. This time it was Lawrence Elliott for Sutton
who came agonisingly close to opening the scoring but marvellous defence prevented the ball
being placed over the line. Moments later it was not to be third time lucky as a rampaging run by
prop Alex Mount set up the perfect platform for a try but the opportunity was squandered.
At the start of the second quarter Beckenham winger Gabriel Jordan dashed into the
enemy half and threatened a stunning score but he was scythed down by a tremendous tackle by
Lawrence Elliott. Having that taste of moderate success the hosts looked probable scorers on the
half hour when Number 8 Andrew Knowles was hauled down with the line at his mercy. It was a
very temporary stay of execution for Sutton. From the ensuing scrum the ball was transferred to
the left where winger Gabriel Jordan had time and space to score. Despite the Lewis Bunton
conversion failing on the wind Beckenham led 5-0.

Excellent pressure from the Black & Whites at the restart gave them an advantageous
lineout on the host’s 22. The scenario improved when Beckenham conceded a penalty that was
kicked into the corner. Initially the Kent forwards splendidly drove back the Surrey pack. However,
a secondary Sutton surge saw the visiting forwards advance towards the line. Then play was
halted by the shrill blast of the whistle and the referee not only awarded Sutton & Epsom a penalty
try but also he flourished a yellow card to captain Richard O’Keefe to reduce the host’s, who now
trailed 7-5, to 14 men. The Balmoral Avenue men made light of the numerical deficiency and soon
regained the lead. S&E failed to deal we a bobbling ball near their 22. From the scrum the home
team struck down the flank with an arcing run followed by an inside pass to scrum half Craig
Thomson who went through untouched to score. Lewis Bunton’s successful strike concluded the
first half with Beckenham leading 12-7 despite the wind and being a player down on the naughty
step.

With the Beckenham coaching contingent imploring greater dynamism from their charges
one contemplated that the collective noun for a group of coaches should be a ‘Frustration’ of
coaches. Meanwhile in the visiting camp the message would have highlighted that the numerous
visits to the opposition 22 had garnered only a solitary try whereas their opponents had been far
more clinical with a couple of scores. The Balmoral Avenue faithful must have viewed their team as
slight favourites as they had both the lead and the wind but they knew success would only come
with an improved performance in the second half.

From the restart the hosts went in search of their next score. They upped the pace and
ferocity and forced an error from the visitors when their scrum, on their line, came under
considerable pressure. Beckenham looked to be mimicking S&E when they dropped the ball but
rather than being fly-hacked to safety it fell into attacking hands. With commendable vision a long
bouncing pass reached Matt Lovell in splendid isolation for him to score with ease. Lewis Bunton
added to the growing lead with the conversion for 19-7. Moments later the Kent men looked likely to score a marvellous try as they swept down the pitch exhibiting superb support play but scrambling Sutton denied them a spectacular score.

S&E brought on their bench, Messrs Boaden, Hilton and Munford as they sought to hold out
under their posts. The hosts conceded a free kick that was taken quickly by Matt Whitaker and in a
flash he had relieved the siege and was crossing the halfway line. With the hour rapidly
approaching Sutton were indebted to a wonderful solo effort from flanker Dan Jones who showed
great pace and nimble footwork to score. Freddy Bunting nonchalantly added the extras to put his
team back into the contest as they entered the final quarter trailing by 19-14. Elation became
deflation from the restart. Failure to catch the kick led to the ball being deflected forward and
giving away a hideous offside penalty as the approaching ball was as irresistible as an ice-cold
lager on a sweltering summer afternoon. Lewis Bunton punished the error as he chipped over the
penalty for a 22-14 lead that meant the visitors needed two scores to avoid defeat.

Lewis Bunton now sensibly used the wind to keep Sutton at arm’s length by pinning them
in their 22 with well-placed kicks. S&E were chasing the game and conceded a kickable penalty but
Beckenham went in search of the bonus point try. Though their bravery went unrewarded as they
lost the attacking lineout they had their reward in time added on. Gabriel Jordan scored his second
try by demonstrating great strength in contact to break the tackle and then notable determination
to run 30 metres straining every muscle to score with tacklers hanging onto his frame. Lewis
Bunton bisected the uprights from the touchline for 29-14. There was time for one more
frustrating visit to the host’s line for the persevering visitors but the lammergeyers had been
hovering over the Sutton carcass for a while and the final whistle put the visitors out of their
misery on a frustrating afternoon for them.

Beckenham deservedly won this encounter outscoring S&E by 4-2 in the try count. From
the outset their pack had the upper hand in the set scrum despite an early departure of the
influential Rimarni Richards. The brothers Caddy impressed in the midfield whilst the educated
boot of Lewis Bunton kept Sutton in their half in the second period once an 8-point lead had been
established. Credit must also be given to the host’s dogged defence in the first half that frustrated
the visitors’ attack that could not get into top gear. The clinical finishing by the home team was
the ultimate difference between two evenly-matched outfits.

For Sutton & Epsom Dan Jones put in his best performance for the 1 st XV and his stunning
solo score was a just reward for a tireless effort in the best traditions of openside flankers. It is
easy to take Matt Whitaker for granted as he approaches his 200 th appearance but his uncanny
habit of gathering the ball at eight from a retreating pack and still getting over the gain line is an
invaluable commodity. Though the tempo and ferocity of the contest went up a notch or two in
the second half it was the rather flat performance, in contrast to Week 1, in the first period that
scuppered the Black & Whites in this match. In terms of possession and territory they should have
led at the interval but instead turned around with a 5-point deficit which proved to be a significant
obstacle to success.

The Black and Whites return to Rugby Lane to take up the challenge of Old Reigatian who
were most impressive 38-21 winners in the corresponding fixture last season. They will hope, no
doubt, to recapture the sparkling form from the opening fixture and return to winning ways.
Sutton & Epsom

Elliott, Watkins, Scott, Bibby, Mohr, Bunting ©, Lovatt, Mount, Gordon, Gibson, Tame, McTaggart,
Rea, Jones & Whitaker.
Replacements: Boaden, Hilton, & Munford.
Beckenham
Kennedy, Lovell, J. Caddy, L. Caddy, Jordan, Bunton, Thomson, Baker, Willden, Richards,
Latouche, Moran, Keefe ©, Stapleton & Knowles.
Replacements: Hatfield, Bernard-Moore & Feldhaus-Davies.

Tooting & Mitcham United 0-2 Epsom and Ewell FC. Combined Counties League – Premier Division South. Saturday 14th September 2024.

After a horrible start to the season with five straight League defeats, it appears that we have now turned the tide as we recorded our third win in a row, all of which have come without conceding a single goal. This 2-0 win at Tooting & Mitcham United’s Imperial Fields was arguably the best all round performance under Warren Burton’s reign, as we nullified any home threat in the opening half an hour before going on to take control of the remaining sixty minutes and leaving the mostly home crowd of 177 severely subdued by the final whistle.

As always, there are some good stats we can pull out of this fine victory. This was the first win for our club on this day since a 6-0 home London League win over Carshalton Athletic in 1938, and it was also our first ever away win on 14th September in our history. Additionally, this was our fourth visit to play Tooting & Mitcham United since they left Sandy Lane and they have yet to beat us there. Finally, the last time we recorded three straight League wins without conceding was in January 2020.

We made two changes to the line up from Saturday’s late win at Camberley Town with Callum Wilson being replaced by Stefan Aiwone and Luke Taylor replacing the injured Axel Kodjo. For the home side, under the Management of former Salt Jamie Byatt and Club Captain Alex Penfold, we came up against two other former Salts in the starting line-up in Mario Quiassaca and Toby McKimm.

The opening exchanges were slightly in favour of the home side, but consisted mainly of long range efforts clearing our crossbar. Toby Young blocked an early strike that looked like it was on target, but by and large our keeper Dan O’Donovan had very little to do between the posts. We may have been nullifying the home attacks, but weren’t creating too much of our own to start with, but that all changed just after the half hour mark when Ali Fofahan did well down the left before pulling the ball back to Carl Oblitey whose powerful shot from twelve yards was kept out well by McKimm. This heralded the start of a good spell for us and Adam Green cleverly set up Luke Miller down the left, where his pull back to Oblitey was also struck on target, although he was denied by McKimm again.

A Green corner bounced off the top of the Tooting & Mitcham crossbar and away, and whilst the home side forced some corners too, ours looked more dangerous. McKimm dropped a deep delivery at the feet of Aiwone, but was able to collect the loose ball before our man had realised what was happening just behind him. Then Ethan Brazier got away on the overlap and his right wing cross was met by the head of Oblitey who saw the ball tipped over the bar by McKimm. I don’t think the header was going in, but it could have gone anywhere if it had struck the bar, which it looked like it might, so it was an important intervention by the home keeper. Our opponents fashioned a couple of dangerous moves just before the break, but Kionte Gillfillian-Waul was there in time to clear a ball in from the left before it would have been tapped in at the far post. Then a short corner and delivery to the near post was headed just wide of O’Donovan’s right hand post, but it would have been harsh had we gone in trailing at half time, which ended goalless.

We had completed the opening forty-five minutes in the ascendency, even though our failure to score in the first half has now been extended to eleven matches; one short of our club record set in 1981/82. Still, the players had only been back on the field for just ninety seconds when we broke through. Fofahan sent an aimless looking throw towards Oblitey, who was well marked, but he out-jumped two defenders to head the ball back to Green. He then gave the ball back to Fofahan out on the touchline, from where he ran at goal, beating a man on the way and then drilling a low shot just inside McKimm’s right hand post from the edge of the area in the 47th minute.

O’Donovan had to make a fairly comfortable save from distance, but we were soon back on the attack and in the 57th minute we extended our lead after one of our corners wasn’t properly cleared and the ball pinged around in the penalty area before striking Fofahan and looping up kindly for Oblitey to nod the loose ball past McKimm from just four yards to claim the goal his performance deserved and to give us a decisive two goal cushion.

Although the scoring was finished for the day, we continued to press. On the hour Miller put Green through on the left, but McKimm was out quickly to block his shot on goal with Taylor firing the rebound wide from just inside the area. Then Green picked up what looked like a harsh yellow card, although it might have been for persistent fouls. From their subsequent free kick, a deep delivery was headed back into the path of a striker, but from twelve yards he scuffed his shot and the grateful O’Donovan was able to make the straightforward save.

We should have scored a third goal after Gillfillian-Waul and Fofahan combined well on the left, with the delivery being side-footed wide by Green from only eight yards before Fofahan intercepted a pass moments later and set up Oblitey who laid the ball into the path of Miller whose powerful shot was directed straight at McKimm, who blocked it up and away.

The game started to get a little niggly and a couple of yellow cards were waved in the direction of frustrated home players for lunges and their day was summed up around ten minutes from time with a shot on goal that was so high it cleared the stand roof. If you’ve been to Imperial Fields, you’ll realise how high that is!

I’ve referred before to there being very few substitutions in recent matches, and again we went for over 80 minutes with the starting eleven, but we made a couple in the closing minutes with both scorers being taken off in order and being replaced by Ethan Nelson-Roberts and Sean Anderson respectively. Nelson- Roberts then sent over a left wing cross, but his delivery was just ahead of Miller and he couldn’t keep the shot on target. In the final minute of injury time Anderson sent over a good deep cross and Miller’s header was inches away, nestling in the side netting.

It didn’t matter though and after five minutes of injury time the whistle blew to confirm a very strong performance from our team. There was more good news today as our former Manager Adrian Hill was present at the game and was able to confirm at the age of 79 that his health is a lot better than it was a couple of years ago. He looked much stronger after going through some difficult days, as indeed did our team!

Epsom & Ewell: Dan O’Donovan, Ethan Brazier, Kionte Gillfillian-Waul, Adam Green (c), Toby Young, Stefan Aiwone, Luke Miller, Craig Dundas, Carl Oblitey, Luke Taylor, Ali Fofahan

Subs: Ethan Nelson-Roberts for Fofahan (84), Sean Anderson for Oblitey (87)

Report Source: www.eefconline.co.uk

Epsom Racecourse hosts its penultimate meeting of the Summer on Thursday with a seven-race card for punters heading to the track. 

Racing gets underway at 2.00pm with a novice stakes in class four before the action comes to a close at 5.22pm with a nine-runner handicap in class five. 

Read below to discover the latest tips and meeting preview for Epsom’s card on Thursday courtesy of BoyleSports, who offer the latest horse racing odds throughout the season. 

The opening contest on the Epsom card (2.00) sees a field of seven head to the start for the seven furlong handicap in class four, with the two-year-old’s taking centre stage in the opener. Luna Girl was a €95,000 purchase as a yearling for trainer Richard Hannon and ticks plenty of boxes on paper making her debut here. Bold Impact for the Ralph Beckett teams also makes plenty of appeal, a thrice-race maiden who has been beaten as an odds-on favourite twice but could go one place better at Epsom this time around. 

Race two on the card (2.35) is a seven furlong handicap in class four and a good field of 15 will be taking it on. Red Mirage was a winner at Catterick in April and followed up with a third in a Chester handicap so is a big player here 1lb lower in the weights. He should see off the inform Roscioli, a winner at Salisbury last month and a very good second of 11 in a Lingfield handicap three weeks ago. 

Nine runners will head to the start for the class five handicap over the one mile and two furlong trip to mark race three on Epsom’s card (3.10). Imperial Cult gets the nod here for trainers Rachel Cook and John Bridger, only narrowly denied in his handicap bid over this course and distance last month having landed back-to-back all weather wins at Lingfield. Mrembo rates the main danger if she can handle the expected softer conditions at Epsom as she has shown preference for better ground than this previously. 

A competitive class four handicap is race four of the afternoon (3.45) with ten runners set to tackle the one mile and four furlong distance. Enochdhu gets the very slight edge here, the slow ground expected to be very much in his favour after a disappointing outing on a faster surface at Kempton last week when he was a disappointing fifth of seven. Of his rivals, Haliphon rates the main danger, the Ian Williams runner arriving off the back of a win at Haydock last time out just a week ago. 

Dubawi Time looks very much the one to beat in race five of the meeting (4.20) having been bang in-form prior to flopping at Chelmsford last time around where he didn’t appreciate the step up in trip so is back down at a more comfortable distance heading to Epsom, while race six (4.50) can go the way of Chips And Rice, who is in good order for trainer James Fanshawe despite being hampered in-running last time out at this track. 

Finally, the card comes to a close with the class five handicap for three-year-old’s at 5.22 over the extended mile trip. Preference in the finale heads the way of Tribal Chief for trainer David Menuisier, landing a career-best when winning a ten-runner Kempton handicap last month and has a very progressive profile to boost his chances. Crimson Spirit is a previous course winner and was second at Epsom on his last spin so clearly has a liking for the track and rates the chief threat so can fill out the second spot. 

Epsom selections – Thursday

2.00 – Luna Girl

2.35 – Red Mirage

3.10 – Imperial Cult

3.45 – Enochdhu

4.20 – Dubawi Time

4.50 – Chips And Rice

5.22 – Tribal Chief

_{Image: Credit Paul. CC BY 2.0}