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Saturday 30th December 2006 Today's Combined Counties League match against Dorking has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch following overnight torrential rain. Tuesday 26th December 2006 Epsom & Ewell and Banstead Athletic fought out an entertaining 1-1 draw at a festive Merland Rise that could have finished 5-5. Both sides were forced into rearranged formations and line-ups due to an outbreak of flu for the hosts and travel complications for Epsom players who were unable to get to the ground that saw Epsom manager Lyndon Buckwell have to start as right back. Banstead should have been ahead on 3 minutes, a misplaced pass across the Epsom defence saw Paul Hunt receive the ball his shot finding the fingertips of Pierre Bourdet to guide it on to the post before bouncing back to Epsom's French keeper. Epsom won a corner on 7 minutes when a Simon Hatton header deflected off James Deacons, the Dale Marvell in swinging corner finding the head of Peter Solomon 6 yards out to put Epsom ahead. Epsom & Ewell creating the better flowing football managed to create the only other chance from open play in the first half, Lyndon Buckwell threading the ball down the right wing channel for Jamie Watson, the Epsom midfielder's cross finding Darren Brown's head but he was unable to control the effort which floated over the bar. Banstead were awarded a free-kick in the final minute of first half injury time, Taylor Mollart's free-kick coming off the underside of the crossbar bouncing out straight into the grateful grip of Pierre Bourdet's gloves. Epsom made a half time substitution with Joe Frimpong coming on for Lyndon Buckwell and another change was enforced on the E's five minutes into the second half with Freddie Myers having to be stretchered off with suspected ligament damage with youth player Sam Braggins making his first team debut. Banstead won themselves a corner on 52 minutes, Ben Hayward's effort cannoning off the top of the crossbar and out for an Epsom goal kick despite Banstead appeals that Pierre Bourdet had touched the ball on to the bar. Dale Marvell on 54 minutes provided Simon Hatton with a through ball, the Epsom striker noticing Sam Braggins in support rolled the ball to the youth player but he was unable to keep his effort down from 10 yards out. Marcus Campbell on 64 minutes decided to have a go with a 30 yard shot that rattled off the woodwork for a goal kick but it did seem as though the E's keeper might have got fingertips on the shot to deflect it on to the bar. Banstead's Dean Gunner trying to turn after receiving a pass from Banstead keeper Paul Butterfill gave the ball away to the pressure of Darren Brown on 66 minutes, the ball being spread across the face of the Banstead box to Jamie Watson to hit a shot that curled just the wrong side of the post with Banstead keeper Butterfill stranded trying to get across his goal. Banstead managed to score the equaliser on 79 minutes when a Kenny Dwyer corner was only half cleared by Jon Boswell's header, Darren Woods firing the ball home from 12 yards out through a crowd of players. Both sides for the final ten went looking for a winner, Mark Solomon on 82 minutes floating the ball deep into the box after a run on the left wing trying to find Darren Brown having put himself in the prime position but Jamie Watson leaping in front of him took the opportunity away from Brown as the ball fell kindly into Banstead keeper Paul Butterfill's gloves. Pierre Bourdet was out quickly to gather the ball at the feet of Tom Jelley on 84 minutes and it was the E's that had the final two chances of the game, Simon Hatton on 86 minutes being played in by a diagonal ball from Dale Marvell tried to chip Paul Butterfill from the same spot as the one he scored from 25 yards out against Cobham last month but this time the striker was unable to get a clean contact with the ball as it looped over the bar. Epsom nearly nicked all three points with the final kick of the game, Darren Brown had been cynically fouled by Ben Hayward as he flicked the ball past the home defender resulting in a free-kick that Dale Marvell floated into the edge of the six yard box with Peter Solomon connecting with a downward header that deflected off Jamie Watson's back forcing Banstead keeper Paul Butterfill to dive to his left to make the save on his goal line, the referee immediately blowing for full-time. Saturday 23rd December 2006 Epsom & Ewell's undefeated league run was brought to a halt at Ash United with the hosts winning 3-0, a scoreline that was not a true reflection of the game. Epsom & Ewell were forced into making a couple of changes to the team that that played against Chertsey in the Surrey Senior Cup 11 days before. A heavy pitch saw both sides forced to use aerial methods that saw both sides comfortably cancel each other out but Ash managed to go a goal up on 37 minutes, an Ash corner was half cleared seeing the ball fired back into the box hitting Joe Frimpong's hand at point blank range, Ash being awarded the penalty which was converted by David Johnstone. An almost identical situation occurred on 42 minutes, Daniel Ike firing a shot that hit the arm of Chris Rose just inside the Ash box, the referee adjudging handball but awarding a free-kick on the very edge of the box, Dale Marvell's free-kick being palmed away by Ash keeper Chris Andrews. Epsom & Ewell were working the hardest in the second half but the home defence managed to stub out the E's attacks in the final third. Ash scored from their first attack in the second half, the ball being crossed in for Karl Dallaway unmarked in the six yard box to score past Pierre Bourdet on 78 minutes and Adam Crittenden in the first minute of injury time made it three by receiving a floated free-kick that he spun upon and fired low past Bourdet from 8 yards out. Saturday 16th December 2006 The Reserves fixture at home to Lewes has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch Thursday 14th December 2006 Epsom & Ewell have managed to arrange a reserve team Suburban League South Division fixture against Lewes for this Saturday afternoon - kick-off 3pm Wednesday 13th December 2006 Epsom & Ewell managed to lose the first leg 4-2 of the Grant McLellan Youth Cup 1st round tie against Cove at Merland Rise. Cove took the lead on 13 minutes when a defensive mistake saw their player gain hold of the ball and fire a shot from just inside the box that managed to squeeze through Ed Humphrey's gloves. The lead was doubled on 15 minutes, a Cove free-kick some 20 yards out taking a deflection off the wall to enable it to creep inside the post. Centre-half Dan Cunningham playing his second match inside 24 hours after coming on in the first team's Surrey Senior Cup match last night managed to cut out a Cove pass just inside the Epsom half then take two steps and hit a spectacular left footed shot from 45 yards out that sailed over the Cove keeper into the net on 39 minutes. Epsom scored the equaliser on 50 minutes, Zach Powell's free-kick finding Matt Keddo, his attempted shot seeing the ball fall to Alwyn Dixon to bury it past the Cove keeper from 6 yards out. Cove re-took the lead on 55 minutes, the ball played down the right wing before being laid into a Cove attacker to fire the ball past Ed Humphreys on his near post. Cove re-established their two goal lead on 63 minutes when a through ball saw Ed Humphreys come out to head the ball clear of the advancing Cove player, the loose ball being chipped first time into the empty net from 30 yards out by a Cove midfielder. Epsom should of been going into the home leg away at Cove on 10th January only one goal behind but Alwyn Dixon managed to head the ball wide of the post. Tuesday 12th December 2006 Epsom & Ewell were knocked out of the Surrey Senior Cup 3-2 tonight by Chertsey Town. Epsom & Ewell used this game to give some of the players that have been sitting on the bench recently a start - Neil Harrowing coming in for Pierre Bourdet, Julian Phillips for unavailable Jon Boswell, Oliver One for injured Mark Styles and Ismael Baker for Simon Hatton. Epsom & Ewell started the better putting pressure on the Chertsey defence but it was the visitors that took the lead on 17 minutes, a Jamal Da Costa shot being blocked by Neil Harrowing down to his right the loose ball laid back to John Pomroy to volley in from a tight angle from 10 yards out. Epsom & Ewell's pressure resulted in a deemed penalty for a tackle on Adam Pero on 24 minutes, Dale Marvell from the spot sending Tony Oval the wrong way. Epsom & Ewell's injury list started to grow as this match developed, Mark Solomon having to be taken off at half-time following a dangerous challenge from behind on him by Sonny Farr, and Tim Hurren was forced to come off with fifteen minutes to go with a groin injury, his replacement Simon Hatton managing to get his head to a Jamie Watson corner to put Epsom ahead just 36 seconds after coming on. Jamal Da Costa managed to scramble the ball home on 84 minutes after Epsom failed to clear the ball out of the box and it was Da Costa again in the first minute of injury time who was first to a half cleared ball on the edge of the area to curl his shot into the top corner. Monday 11th December 2006 The Grant McLellan Cup 1st Round 1st Leg on Wednesday has now been switched from Cove to Merland Rise The Southern Youth League match provisionally scheduled away to Godalming Town next week has been postponed The Combined Counties League Premier Division match against Banstead Athletic on Boxing Day will kick-off at 1pm Saturday 09th December 2006 An Adam Pero header on 71 minutes secured Epsom & Ewell all three points with a 1-0 win away at Krooner Park against Camberley Town. Epsom & Ewell kept with the same starting line-up as that which picked up the 2-1 win at home to Chertsey last Saturday. The first half was a dour affair with only one chance falling to both sides, Adam Pero's flick finding Simon Hatton but his shot was blocked on 23 minutes, and panic in the Epsom box off a Camberley free-kick on 34 minutes saw Epsom try to scramble the ball out but Pierre Bourdet on the edge of his own six yard box was forced to dive on the ball to ensure that half-time came with both sides level. Epsom stepped up a gear in the second half going down the slope at Krooner Park as chance after chance was created, Daniel Ike seeing his effort from 20 yards out fly high and wide on 51 minutes. Dale Marvell's cross on 59 minutes seeing Simon Hatton chest the ball into the path of Adam Pero but the power on the shot was taken off by a slight deflection that saw Carl Clayton make a comfortable save. Epsom's Peter Solomon played a ball into the channel on 67 minutes finding Dale Marvell on the left wing speeding away from the Camberley defence, his cross into the box seeing Adam Pero flick on to Simon Hatton but Carl Clayton was able to make a comfortable save from the Epsom striker's effort on the edge of the box. The winner occurred on 71 minutes, Peter Solomon's clearance seeing the ball bounce in the middle of the Camberley half, Camberley keeper Carl Clayton came flying out of his box to try to head the ball away from Adam Pero but the Epsom striker was first to the ball to head it over Clayton some 25 yards from goal, the ball rolling into the empty net with Scott Brighty unable to reach it with his attempted sliding clearance. Jamie Watson found himself on the end of a Daniel Ike cross on 76 minutes but he was unable to control the direction of his shot. Epsom keeper Pierre Bourdet in the final minute was forced to get down to his right to push a Camberley shot around the post to ensure Epsom left with all three points. BBC Award
Friday 08th December 2006 The Combined Counties League Premier Division match at home to Chessington & Hook United next Saturday has been postponed due to their pitch is waterlogged and the Football Association have directed that their home FA Vase scheduled for tomorrow is to be re-scheduled for next Saturday. Monday 04th December 2006 Tonight's Reserve team fixture at home to Tonbridge Angels has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch Saturday 02nd December 2006 Epsom & Ewell won a tense league battle at home to Chertsey Town 2-1 in a dress rehearsal for the Surrey Senior Cup in 10 days time at Merland Rise, the result seeing Epsom climb up to 15th in the table. Epsom & Ewell started with the same starting line-up as Tuesday's win at home to Cove and it was the hosts that were forced to soak up the early pressure by the visitors. Epsom against the run of play managed to open the scoring on 14 minutes, Pierre Bourdet with a long goal kick saw the two Chertsey centre-half's both seem to lose the ball in the falling sun, Adam Pero latching on to the ball and converting low past Anthony Oval from 12 yards out. The goal opened the game up as both sides started to attack the opposition. Epsom took a short corner on 26 minutes with a routine that had worked on Tuesday against Cove, Jamie Watson laying a ball off to Dale Marvell to whip in cross seeing Adam Pero trying to get his head to the ball but Chertsey keeper Anthony Oval managed to claim the ball just ahead of Pero. A minute later Adam Pero managed to get the better of Anthony Oaks, his cross into the box trying to find Simon Hatton saw the ball float behind for a goal kick. Chertsey managed to get the ball into Jamal Da Costa on 33 minutes, his shot from the edge of the box seeing Pierre Bourdet push the ball on to base of the post, Mark Styles clearing the loose ball. Chertsey equalised on 36 minutes, the ball from Luke Muldowney chipped towards the Epsom box saw Tim Hurren and Jamal Da Costa both go up for the same ball seeing the Epsom centre half pulling out of the header allowing the ball to fall into the Epsom box for John Pomroy who had raced around the back of the Epsom defence to bury the ball on an acute angle into the far corner of the net past Pierre Bourdet from 8 yards out. Chertsey were the quicker into their stride in the second half and a Luke Muldowney free-kick on 48 minutes saw Pierre Bourdet left to be a bystander as the ball was curled over the wall to come off the top of the crossbar. Epsom & Ewell's movement down the right wing on 58 minutes saw Jamie Watson provide the ball to Daniel Ike just on the edge of the box but the Epsom midfielder was unable to keep his shot down. Chertsey set up good opportunities in the 63rd and 68th minute but wayward shooting saw the ball blazed high and wide both times. Epsom re-took the lead on 76 minutes, a cross field ball by Daniel Ike into the path of Jamie Watson saw the Epsom midfielder manage to extend his leg to lift the ball over Chertsey keeper Anthony Oval who had come flying off his line to try to intercept, the ball seemed as if it would drop just under the bar but the ball hit the face of the bar and bounced down hitting Tom Bentley chasing back squarely in the defender's chest 8 yards out, despite Bentley's attempts to prevent the ball going over the line he could only help in making sure that the ball hit the back of the net. Chertsey threw the proverbial kitchen sink at Epsom for the final ten minutes, Matt Graves saw his shot from the edge of the box on 87 minutes forced on to the crossbar by Pierre Bourdet with a fingertip save. Pierre Bourdet was alert to one final attempt in the second minute of injury time when he was forced into making a save from John Pomroy down low to his right by his post. Reserves lose narrowly at Tooting & Mitcham Epsom & Ewell's reserves ended losing 2-0 away at Tooting & Mitcham's Imperial Fields this afternoon. Due to injuries and late call-ups to the first team, the average age of the squad was just over 18 years old, but they managed to hold promotion chasing Tooting to only a two goal lead. Daniel Nicholls playing up front managed to find the net twice but both were ruled out for offside.
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© Epsom & Ewell F.C. 2002-2010 |
Epsom & Ewell manager Lyndon Buckwell has been awarded the manager of the
month award for November 2006 by BBC Southern Counties Radio in recognition of
the team's run in November that saw the E's pick up 10 out of a possible 12
points with three wins and a draw enabling us to climb from 21st to 18th in the
table. This is the second time this season that a Combined Counties League
manager has picked up the award as Chipstead manager Nicky English picked it up
in August for the Chips start to the season. The team unfortunately were unable
to make it a double celebration as Wembley were awarded the November team of the
month award by the Combined Counties League. The manager of the month award
curse seemed to be hanging over the team today with a below average first half
at Camberley but a much better second half saw Epsom manage to pick up all three
points. 