Salts surrender lead on rain-soaked afternoon at Camberley
Saturday 24 October 2026 | Krooner Park | Combined Counties League Premier South | Camberley Town 3–2 Epsom & Ewell
Epsom travelled to Camberley Town on a bleak Saturday, with Storm Boelo delivering a treacherous forecast. The game got underway in driving rain on a heavy, muddy pitch — the kind of traditional surface that demands long studs and true grit.
The Salts lined up in a revised 4-3-3 formation, boosted by the return of captain Brendan in the centre of midfield and the debut of young goalkeeper Aaron, signed from RPV. Epsom started brightly, dominating the midfield battles and distributing the ball with confidence.
In the eighth minute, the pressure told. A misplaced clearance from the Camberley goalkeeper fell to Blessing, who won the race against the hosts’ number five and calmly chipped the stranded keeper from inside the penalty area.
Camberley began to grow into the game and, in the 26th minute, a contentious decision went against the Salts. Foord was penalised with a questionable free-kick and a yellow card. The resulting pressure led to a disputed corner, from which the ball was flicked on at the near post for Hoppit to level the scores.
Epsom responded excellently. A second corner quickly followed a period of fine midfield passing, and Brendan delivered a pinpoint cross to the back post. Toby rose highest to power his header home, restoring the lead just before half-time.
Debutant Aaron had enjoyed a flawless, composed first half in goal.
After the break, Toby came agonisingly close to a third, rattling the crossbar with another powerful header from a corner.
The turning point arrived shortly afterwards. Naz appealed for offside, but the flag stayed down. As Camberley’s number three cut inside, Miller, tracking back, made shoulder-to-shoulder contact and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
Tempers flared, resulting in Max being sent off from the sidelines. Camberley’s number 10 converted the penalty despite Aaron guessing the right way: 2–2.
The game became increasingly scrappy on the worsening surface, although Foord came close when he curled an effort just over the bar.
Disaster struck following another disputed free-kick. Steadman curled the ball into the box and Aaron came out to claim it, but was caught in a heavy collision involving Naz, Toby and Camberley’s number 15. The ball agonisingly ricocheted off a head and into the empty net.
Epsom threw everything forward in the closing stages, but there was to be no way back. A frustrating afternoon was compounded after the final whistle when Oba received a yellow card during the post-match arguments.
We wish Camberley well with their pitch renovations during the summer and look forward to playing on a perfect surface next year.
Up the Salts.
