Epsom Goals from Russel Tebay & Paul Atkinson
This is usually a fiercely contested local derby and this time was no different, with a high tempo game ending in a 2-2 draw.
Epsom had beaten Reigate 5-2 in the first half of the season and Epsom coach and long time Reigate sympathiser Immy Bhatti warned that the visitors had arrived with revenge in mind.
Reigate certainly looked like a team on a mission in the early exchanges, flying out of the blocks and swamping Epsom with a high press. Despite Reigate's early dominance, it was Epsom who created the first chance when centre forward Wade Joubert's aerial pass over the Reigate defence found Mike Atkinson clean through on goal, but the winger buckled under the pressure of becoming the first Epsom player to double figures this season and his shot hit the side netting. Epsom were just beginning to play their way into the game when Reigate's hassling forced a misplaced pass from centre half Ali Murrell which led to a short corner. An initial drag flick was parried back into the danger zone, and a fiercely struck rebound hit Murrell on the shoulder as it was heading in. Murrell did well to show no pain but the umpire had little option but to award a penalty flick, which Reigate's James Chesterton converted to give the visitors a deserved lead. Reigate were in the ascendancy with their play maker Danny Byfield displaying a subtle range of passing in central midfield. Epsom were under the cosh and were not helped when skipper Rob Tong had to go off injured after an awkward fall. The home side rallied close to half time however under buccaneering vice captain James Harris, who drove through some space in the middle before firing in a shot which was going well wide until Russell Tebay turned it in from close range. Half time arrived with the score at 1-1.
The second half was also keenly contested, with both sides throwing everything forward. Epsom went behind again early in the second half when Brett Hosken deflected a cross towards his own goal and keeper Colin Savage made an instinctive save when he didn't need to. The rebound fell straight to a Reigate player who scored from close range. This unfortunate set back could well have seen Epsom toys being thrown out of prams, but the home side instead started to up their game, dominating possession and switching the ball well. Reigate retreated under the pressure allowing Epsom to win several short corners, and from one of these Paul Atkinson battled bravely to get a deflection on Mike Atkinson's strike to make it 2-2. Epsom kept up the pressure to the final whistle, but Reigate's defence stood up well, and Brett Hosken and Paul Atkinson both saw shots superbly saved by the Reigate keeper in the closing stages.
2-2 was a fair result as Reigate had played so well early on and could well have been out of sight by the time Epsom picked up their game. The dropped points set Epsom back but they remain second in the table and will be looking to bounce back with a better performance away to Winchester 2s.