Havant 2s: 1
Epsom: 4 (Midmer 2, Pizzey, Turnbull)
Gamechanger: Steve Turnbull scored his second in two games in a 4-1 win at Havant College
Epsom ground out a disciplined 4-1 win away to Havant 2s on Saturday. Spirits were surprisingly high for a 10:30 meet and survived a testing moment when Scott Barton kicked Drew Vermeulen’s prized 2005 Sondico football on top of the changing rooms. Starting strongly, Epsom patiently held the ball and broke through after 15 minutes when Scott Barton slung a quick free-hit into the circle which James Midmer deflected home. Soon after, an Epsom attack down the left played in Alex Pizzey who deftly found space and drilled home for 2-0. Havant switched to a more attacking approach and created pressure in the run up to half time, but Epsom looked solid at the back with James Harris in commanding tackling form to keep it 2-0 at half time.
Epsom’s passing slightly deserted them at the start of the second half and Havant stepped up the pressure, soon scoring a low short corner dragflick to make it 2-1. Epsom rallied after this shaky spell and hit back with a short corner; Ben Hildrey’s drag-flick was saved but the rebound broke to Steve Turnbull who fired home emphatically for 3-1. The game remained nip-and-tuck for some time with both sides receiving a yellow card and Havant starting to throw more numbers forward. Epsom’s defence stood firm in the face of both quick Havant forwards and occasional friendly kicking fire from Ed Burton-Brown. With time running out, an Epsom counterattack saw Alex Pizzey’s strong run blocked by the keeper with James Midmer following up to chip the loose ball home for 4-1. Epsom defended tightly in the final seven minutes to take a valuable three points back up the A3.
Epsom will hope to keep improving at home to Hamble next week, before the return of the annual Race Night fundraiser at the club.