Epsom's first game was against a London Wayfarers side who beat them twice last year en route to relegation. Wayfarers play a disciplined, patient brand of hockey, and in hot conditions and on a sticky pitch the game was tight and attritional, with few clear cut chances at either end.

If anything Epsom shaded the opening stages, winning a number of penalty corners, but several routines broke down on either the push or the stop, giving new penalty corner specialist Wade Joubert little chance to demonstrate his ability in this area. After spurning a variety of decent positions up front, Epsom then conceded a sloppy goal on halftime, losing the ball in midfield and then failing to defend a Wayfarers counter attack.

The second half was almost as unmemorable as the first, with both sides getting tired and the game slowing to walking pace. Epsom again had some chances at the set piece, with Brett Hosken now showcasing a slap hit pushout last seen in 1976, but it made little improvement to the routine.

A clearly frustrated Epsom coach Immy Bhatti then voiced one opinion too many to the umpire and was sent to the sin bin to calm down. Calming influence Wade Joubert did his best to calm the situation, but a tired looking Epsom conceded twice in the final five minutes to give Wayfarers a slightly flattering 3-0 win.

Match report by Jimmy Midmer