Southampton: 2
Epsom: 3 (Barton, P.Atkinson 2)
Just 10 minutes before this game Epsom still had just six players at the ground, but thankfully with a very sporting 5 minutes delay all 11 were able to start. Epsom ironically started very strongly, some fast passing and movement creating a string of chances in the first 10 minutes. Southampton held on and against the run of play won a penalty stroke, but the high flick remarkably hit both posts before rolling to safety. The remainder of the half saw Epsom continue to press forward and they were eventually rewarded when Scott Barton slung home a short corner flick for a 1-0 lead. Epsom kept attacking but could not extend this lead before half time.
Southampton livened up considerably after the break and Epsom were soon rueing not putting the game away in the first half. Southampton forced a string of early penalty corners and eventually recycled one to be slammed home for 1-1. Epsom responded immediately with strong link up play on the right seeing Mike Atkinson burst through and force a penalty stroke, which Paul Atkinson calmly converted for 2-1. The game was now really even with both sides flying forward. With 10 minutes to go Epsom won a short corner and kept it alive long enough for Paul Atkinson to bundle home for 3-1. This should really have been enough, but a frantic end saw Epsom lose two players to yellow cards and Southampton convert a late short corner to make it 3-2. Fortunately for Epsom time had almost run out and they held on and went back up the M3 a bit quicker than on the way down.