Men's 1s vs Epsom

On a very grey blusterer day at the Sport Centre the blues welcomed very experienced and well drilled Epsom First. The game started positively for the home side with the ball being controlled well and creating a few chances. A goal against the run of play when a turnover at the back gave the ball to the Epsom forward who clinically put the ball past the stranded Toby, 0-1 Epsom. Epsom grew in confidence and took the game by the scruff of the neck and moved the ball fast and accurately around the back and through the middle. Another error at the back gave the ball to the Epsom skipper who calmly slotted the ball low past Toby to give Epsom a 0-2 lead. This knocked the wind out of the blues and they conceded two quick goals to give Epsom a 4-0 lead going into half time.

Will Meacher picked the ball up from a very good tackle deep inside our half and picked out O'Brien on the right hand side who returned the pass to the Meacher who again returned the ball to O'Brien, O'Brien's far post pass to Nurse was intercepted by the Epsom keeper but his kick went straight to Meacher who wanted to make it 2 goals in 2 games but his shot was palmed on to the crossbar where Nurse pounced and volleyed the ball in to the empty goal, this was on the stroke of half time, 1-4.

At half time we spoke about wanting to get something from the match and shore up the back line. We started in a great fashion with slick passing and good movement up front. We created a number of chances but could not take them. Epsom tried to kill the game off with a PS to make it 1-5, Toby was sent the wrong way. Southampton still went at Epsom knowing we could get goals with our creative front 5. The blues won a PC the resulting PC was slipped to the wide open Nurse who easily popped the ball into the empty far post sideboard, 2-5.

Southampton pushed hard and went after the ball putting Epsom under pressure in all departments limiting them to counter attacks that the back four dealt with. A slick attack found its way to the top of the 'D' where the ball was passed to Simon Watson who again slotted the ball in at the far post, 3-5. Epsom won a PC and the resulting drag flick was unfortunately deflected by the number 1 runner high over the head of the post man, 3-6. We still didn't give up, a right side attack found its way to O'Brien who flicked the ball past his marker and the ball was going over the baseline before his diving slap put the ball across the goal beating the keeper and Oscar Rigby finished in a empty goal, 4-6. James Nurse had a fantastic chance to get us too one goal behind but his lob over the stranded keeper was saved by a last ditched effort by the Epsom defender and the ball fell to Simon Watson who couldn't force the ball over the line.

Time ran out and losing 4-6. Such a shame we gave Epsom a 4-0 lead and head start in the game. We found that the away side took their chances well and we were punished by lack of concentration. Second half we played out of our skin scoring 3 goals and looked like scoring a number of more goals if it was a different day. I couldn't have asked for more from the chaps second half they took on board what was said to them and really proved we can mix it with the best if we play in the same fashion for 70 minutes.

One last game before the Christmas break see us up against fellow struggles and local rivals Havant 2s a huge game that could get us back into the survival fight.

Goal Scorers: Nurse 2x, Rigby, O and Watson, S
MOTM: William Meacher - very solid game but there were a number of players who's second half performance deserved a vote.
DOTD: Toby Rigby - a bit of a blunder when he kicked the ball straight to the Epsom forward....