Match Reports 
Mens 1's Epsom Mens 1st XI: 7 - Bournemouth: 1
Mens 1's Epsom Mens 1st XI: 7 - Bournemouth: 1
Epsom Goals from Jimmy Midmer (2), Paul Atkinson, Rob Tong, Russell Tebay, Mike Atkinson, Immy Bhatti
Epsom stormed to victory over Bournemouth on Saturday, striking five times in the opening twenty minutes before running out 7-1 winners.
Epsom flew out of the blocks at Chapel Gate and opened the scoring after very early on; Paul Atkinson showing good skill on the left before finding Rob Tong in the area, who set up James Midmer to score from close range. Epsom were soon two up as Mat Heal's short corner strike was saved, but the rebound fell kindly for Midmer who bundled it home. Epsom seemed to have the Midas touch at short corners in the early stages, going 3-0 up when Paul Atkinson deflected home a straight strike and then extending their lead when skipper Rob Tong stepped up and smashed home a straight strike with the aid of a deflection to make it 4-0. Bournemouth looked shellshocked and when Alex Pizzey's driving run through the middle enabled Russell Tebay to make it 5-0 with a composed finish, the game was effectively over as a contest after 20 minutes. The remainder of the first half was fairly quiet. Bournemouth gradually came back into the game but Ali Murrell made a number of high class interceptions at the back to limit the home side's chances to short corners, which were safely negotiated.With the halftime score of 5-0 the second half could have been an anticlimax, but there was still some exciting hockey as both sides looked to attack. Epsom had some chances from short corners early in the half, but Bournemouth defended these well and then got a goal back when a quick break through midfield resulted in a calm finish. Epsom keeper Collin Savage then had to be alert coming off his line to snuff out further oportunities, but Epsom always looked capable of stepping up a gear and after a sustained period of possession, Midmer waltzed past three Bournemouth defenders and set up Mike Atkinson for a routine finish. Player coach Immy Bhatti rounded off the scoring with an unscripted, but very effective, short corner strike to make it 7-1 at the close.
