Epsom: 1 (Barton)
Havant 2s: 2
Fifth-placed Epsom were just edged out by league leaders Havant 2s on Saturday, with a late winner seeing the visitors take a massive step towards promotion. Havant had looked much the more interested side throughout the first half, taking an early lead from a recycled short-corner and then threatening to extend it several times but for sharp work from Epsom ‘keeper Jack Miller. Epsom forced a string of short corners as half time approached, the last of which saw Havant’s keeper make a superb triple-save, but in all honesty the 1-0 scoreline could have been worse.
The second half was a completely different story; Epsom finally found their passing range and subsequently piled forward repeatedly in search of an equaliser. Havant’s keeper continued to look completely immoveable until a sensational strike from Scott Barton made it 1-1 with 10 minutes to go; the South African forward crashing home a rising shot that almost took the net off. This set the scene for some open and frantic closing exchanges, but it was Havant who won the game with another great individual goal three minutes from time; this time a high forward taking down an accurate aerial, before neatly flicking it over his shoulder to lob the onrushing Miller for 2-1. It was a goal that deserved to win any game but Epsom could take heart from a decent second half performance during which they stretched a side who are likely to gain the league’s automatic promotion spot.