Epsom Goals by Hutchings, Midmer, Pizzey, Joubert (2), M.Atkinson (3), P.Atkinson (2), Bhatti, M.Simmonds
Epsom ran out comfortable winners at Blenheim School on Saturday, scoring twelve unanswered goals against Winchester's 2nd team to move up to fourth in the Surrey/Hampshire Premier League.
Epsom were missing skipper Rob Tong for this game, but the captaincy passed to the experienced James Harris, who urged his side not to let up on some recent good form. Epsom started in the ascendancy and Winchester's keeper had to make several good saves in the early stages to keep his side in the game.
Epsom eventually took the lead when Nathan Hutchings followed up a goalmouth scramble to calmly slam home his first goal of the season. This strike seemed to relax Epsom, who soon started playing the passing hockey that coach Mahmood Bhatti subscribes to. They extended their lead when James Midmer deflected home an intelligent cross from Alex Pizzey, and Pizzey himself then netted an almost carbon copy goal to make it 3-0. Wade Joubert rounded off the first half with a jinking run and reverse stick shot making it 4-0 at the break.
The mercurial Joubert is a key player for Epsom and this was a fine strike to open his account for the season. The second half saw Epsom flying forward to close down the game quickly. Mike Atkinson had been quiet in the first half, but he started the second with a trademark run down the right before beating the keeper at the near post with a powerful strike. Paul Atkinson was next on the scoresheet, finishing after a short corner melee, before Mike Atkinson added two more, the latter a fierce short corner strike.
At 8-0 Epsom might have relaxed, but the home side kept flying forward and the set piece moved up a gear as Paul Atkinson crashed home a superb deflection and Joubert added his second, and Epsom's tenth, with a well placed dragflick. Coach Mahmood "Immy" Bhatti then showed some trademark tight skills to score his first of the league season, before Matt Simmonds slammed home following another short corner. The Winchester goalkeeper played well all game, and made good saves right up to the close, but Epsom's possession, territory and composure in the area was too much for the visitors in this game.
Skipper James Harris was in relaxed mood after the game. "I thought we put in a disciplined professional performance and showed that we have the ability to cut loose when we raise our performance levels. It would have been easy for us to sit back and relax in the second half, but credit to the guys they showed the desire to keep playing in the closing stages".
Epsom have now won three league games in a row, but face a challenging away trip to Fareham next Saturday.
Match report by Jimmy Midmer