Chipstead 1–1 Epsom & EwellFC. 31st October 2026. NRT Stadium, High Road, Chipstead. Combined Counties Premier League South. Attendance: 93.
The Salts had to settle for a point at Chipstead after a competitive encounter in the afternoon sunshine.
Backed by a strong travelling following, the Salts started brightly. Jason Bloor was caught in the face by an off-the-ball elbow after just three minutes, but the incident went unpunished. Angel Montes, returning from injury, was also on the receiving end of another heavy elbow soon afterwards, which was again missed by the referee.
Chipstead registered the first attempt of the match in the 13th minute, but the shot went wide. Epsom & Ewell continued to press, and on the half-hour a fine move, started and finished by Blessing Hombessa, ended with his effort flying narrowly over the crossbar.
The Salts deservedly took the lead in the 40th minute. After the home goalkeeper failed to hold the ball, Jason Bloor reacted quickest and fired into the net. There was still time before the interval for Callum McAllistair to find Hombessa, whose shot went just wide.
Blessing Hombessa went close again early in the second half, but Chipstead equalised in the 59th minute when Diego Munoz broke down the right and fired past Grummitt.
Salts captain Brendan Murphy-McVey was booked in the 65th minute, before a Chipstead player also received a yellow card two minutes later following another late challenge.
The Salts then thought they had regained the lead when Murphy-McVey’s free-kick was powerfully headed home by Toby Young. However, the referee disallowed the goal for a foul which nobody else appeared to see, much to the frustration of the Salts players and supporters.
Niall Stillwell replaced goalscorer Jason Bloor in the 70th minute, while Kionte Waul came on for Luke Miller after 84 minutes. Murphy-McVey later sent another free-kick narrowly wide of the upright.
Antonios Nazareth was forced off through injury in stoppage time and was replaced by Harry Murphy.
The Salts will feel they created enough opportunities to win and were particularly unfortunate to see Young’s goal disallowed. However, a point on the road was still a useful reward from a competitive afternoon.
