Epsom: 3 (W.Hunt, Neve, Midmer)
Haslemere: 1
Some clinical second half finishing took Epsom to a 3-1 win over Haslemere at Old Schools Lane, enabling them to stay top of the Hampshire / Surrey League 1 heading into the final three games before the winter break. Epsom were a bit disappointing in the first half, they saw a lot of early ball but didn’t engineer a single chance and it was Haslemere’s inventive midfield unit who looked more dangerous in the run-up to half-time. However, Epsom held on with a strong defensive effort and half-time arrived at 0-0.
Epsom emerged far sharper after half-time and took the lead on 50 minutes with a strong move; Brett Hosken slinging a great diagonal pass to James Midmer in the inside left channel who then found Will Hunt steaming in to deflect home clinically. Soon after, a patient attack saw a ball powered in and Tom Neve’s instinctive deflection made it 2-0. Epsom were by now looking in much better touch; with 10 minutes remaining Midmer deflected home a well-executed short corner routine for 3-0. Haslemere kept going and with two minutes to go a short corner flick crept in for 3-1, but the remaining seconds ticked away without further alarm enabling Epsom to see it out at 3-1.
Whilst not their best day at the office Epsom defended well and took their chances and will be hoping to improve away to London Edwardians 2s next weekend.