Epsom: 3 (Midmer, P.Atkinson, Hildrey)

Lewes: 4

This was a cracking game which Lewes eventually fought back to win having gone behind three times. 

Lewes saw more of the ball in the opening stages, but Epsom soaked up some early pressure and then took the lead when James Midmer reacted to a rebound and rolled the ball over the line from a narrow angle. Lewes hit back soon after, when their first short corner saw a powerful drag flick beat Matt Tuppen low down. Epsom started to create several chances as the first half wore on, the best of which saw Paul Atkinson hit the post with a neat deflection. Epsom eventually took the lead again when a neat attack down the left saw Matt Simmonds’ rampaging run draw a short corner, and Paul Atkinson converted clinically to make it 2-1. Lewes again looked to hit back, but some tough defence from Epsom was backed up by some good short corner saves from Tuppen and Epsom took a 2-1 lead into half time.

Lewes started the second half on the front foot and equalised when skipper Rory Jervis found space in the circle and fired home into the roof of the net to make it 2-2. Epsom soon took the lead again with a superb goal; Mike Atkinson’s reverse flick setting in train a one touch passing move that ripped Lewes’ rearguard apart and allowed Oli Hildrey to roll the ball home past the keeper to make it 3-2. Epsom held this lead for much of the half, but Lewes always looked dangerous and with 10 minutes to go, the away side scored a short corner rebound to make it 3-3, before scoring another short corner rebound almost immediately after to take a 4-3 lead. Epsom piled on the pressure in the closing stages, with Paul Atkinson hitting the post again from another short corner, before a follow up shot was bravely cleared off the line by a Lewes defender.

This was a good game which again swung against Epsom in crucial moments, with Lewes fighting back well to win and executing some very skilful short corners. Epsom played some good attacking hockey and will look to bounce back next week when they host West Hampstead at Blenheim School.