Epsom: 4 (Baker, Marfleet, Davies 2)
Old Georgians 2s: 5
Epsom were just edged out of a tight game by Old Georgians 2s at Old Schools Lane, losing 5-4 despite leading for most of the match.
Following some torrential rain the OSL pitch played very fast and Georgians applied a lot of pressure in the early stages. Epsom kept things tight however, and took a 1-0 lead when Josh Glasford forced a turnover, motored through the covering defence and played in Giles Baker who smashed home emphatically for 1-0.
The driving rain returned for the second half and contributed to a chaotic 35 minutes; the excellent Jack Marfleet powered home a low short corner flick for 2-0, but Georgians forced a turnover straight away and fired home for 2-1. Soon after, an Epsom counterattack saw left-back Jake Davies crash home for 3-1, but again Georgians cut the deficit quickly, firing home a short corner for 3-2. Jack Marfleet was by now ticking and a superb solo run drew another corner, this time Davies fired home an emphatic flick for 4-2 with 15 minutes left. For a third time; Epsom were unable to hold this lead; Georgians pulled it back to 4-3, and then piled forward and won a penalty stroke for 4-4. Epsom were now hanging on and with five minutes remaining the visitors soon won a short corner which was converted with a slick routine for 5-4. Epsom summoned a final effort in the last few minutes but couldn’t equalise.
Whilst disappointing to lose having led for the majority of the game; Georgians had applied constant pressure and deserved the result. Jack Marfleet was superb throughout and did not deserve to lose. Epsom played some great attacking hockey and will hope to regroup ahead of next week’s trip to Eastbourne.