Epsom: 3 (Midmer 2, P.Atkinson)
West Hampstead: 6
Some attractive attacking play was again not enough for Epsom as they were clinically picked off by table topping West Hampstead.
Roared on by a crowd of at least seven, Epsom took an early lead when fans favourite Mike Atkinson broke clear and unselfishly allowed James Midmer to roll home an opener after just 30 seconds. Incredibly, West Hampstead then equalised straight from the push back, as their skilful right winger waltzed to the right baseline and pulled the ball back for a first time finish. 1-1 after approximately 45 seconds of open play. West Hampstead dominated the next 10 minutes and the visitors took a deserved lead when a free hit into the circle was deflected in from close range for 2-1. However, Epsom then stepped up their own play as the half went on and, after some decent spells of attacking possession, a solo goal from Midmer made the score 2-2 at half time.
The second half saw Epsom continue to play some nice stuff, but another swift West Hampstead attack gave them a 3-2 lead. Epsom fought back and Paul Atkinson clinically converted a short corner for 3-3 as the game headed into the last 15 minutes. By now the pace of the game was starting to show, and in an end-to-end finale it was West Hampstead who showed more clinical instincts, scoring another well worked goal down the right hand side for 4-3. Epsom player coach Immy Bhatti then made a rare appearance on the field and began to cause havoc, but Epsom passed up some chances to equalise and West Hampstead again put together a slick move down the right hand side to make it 5-3. Epsom piled forward in the closing stages but Watts saw a shot saved before Mike Atkinson’s follow up was cleared off the line. From another attack Oli Hildrey’s shot was then deflected over the bar by the keeper’s helmet. But it wasn’t Epsom’s day and West Hampstead rubbed salt into the wounds with by scoring on the break in the final stages to make it 6-3.
This was the latest in a string of bad results for Epsom but they shook off the blues for the crucial defence the clubs pub golf trophy in the evening, with a team led by Alex Simmonds claiming to win the event for a second year running. Matt Watts, an Epsom resident for several years, claimed to be visiting several of the establishments for the first time and managed to collect the best dressed award, whilst James Midmer was presumably reading the league table upside down when ordering champagne in the Symonds Well.
