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Wednesday 29th November 2006 Epsom & Ewell youth succumbed to their first league defeat at home to Kingstonian this evening, Ruben Lavrado opened the scoring during the first half but Kingstonian were allowed to equalise in the early stages of the second half and Epsom fell behind when Ivan Dos Santos was adjudged to have fouled a Kingstonian player by leaning into him in the penalty area, the Epsom player being shown a red card and the penalty being converted. Tuesday 28th November 2006 Epsom & Ewell picked up all three league points at home to Cove this evening with a 4-2 win despite putting in a sluggish performance that saw the E's climb to 18th in the league table. Epsom & Ewell made a couple of changes from last week - Joseph Maye and Jamie Hatfield were both injured last week and were replaced by Mark Solomon and Tim Hurren. Epsom & Ewell looked tired from the start and it took just six minutes to bring to an end the longest spell without conceding a goal (276 minutes), the ball being played into the centre of the box, an Epsom defender slipping over allowing Ben Hill to steer the ball inside the bottom corner with Epsom keeper Pierre Bourdet appearing to be unsighted. Cove should have been two ahead on 9 minutes, the ball being played diagonally into John Finnieston at the back post but a point blank block from the Cove striker's shot by Bourdet kept the ball out. Dale Marvell's corner on 13 minutes found Tim Hurren with a low diving header on the back post that found the side netting and on 20 minutes a Daniel Ike cross found Adam Pero rising above Mike Ford to get a header on target from 10 yards out but Steve Harvey in the Cove goal managed to make a save to his left to keep it out. Epsom & Ewell deservedly equalised on 24 minutes when Daniel Ike managed to chase the ball down the right wing and then evade three challenges as he moved in field before managing to find Jamie Watson on the overlap, Watson easily going past one defender before letting fly with a swerving shot from 25 yards out into the top corner that left Cove keeper Steve Harvey rooted in the middle of his goal. Epsom with the momentum started to look more purposeful going forward with the goal, Dale Marvell and Simon Hatton both on the edge of the area on 34 and 36 minutes saw speculative shots fly high and wide. Epsom were awarded a penalty on 40 minutes when Adam Pero received the ball on his chest and managed to go past a lunging challenge but the second lunging tackle saw Anthony Ricketts bring Pero down, the referee having no hesitation in pointing to the spot before brandishing a yellow card to Neil Phillips for kicking the ball at the match official. Dale Marvell stepped up to slot the ball to Steve Harvey's left, although the keeper guessed the right, the Epsom captain's penalty was executed perfectly to keep it out of reach. Epsom could of extended the lead further on 43 minutes, a deep corner that was flicked on by Pero on the edge of the six yard box found Peter Solomon, the Epsom midfielder being unable to keep his shot down from 12 yards out. Cove were awarded a penalty in the first minute of injury time when Tim Hurren had too much grip on Cove's John Finnieston's shirt for the referee's liking, the referee pointing to the spot and Finnieston stepped up to execute an almost identical penalty to Dale Marvell's one. The referee added on a number of minutes of injury time at the end of the first half which allowed Epsom to retake the lead in the fifth minute of injury time when Daniel Ike picked up a ball down the right wing to race towards the visitors box where he performed a couple of step over's on the edge before whipping a cross into the box that found Jon Boswell who had joined the attack to hook his boot around the ball on the half volley from 12 yards out forcing the ball to bounce past Cove keeper Steve Harvey into the net. Epsom & Ewell started again sluggishly from the start of the second half as the ball was being played short between players, it took 10 minutes of the second half for Epsom to start looking threatening again as the visitors were being invited to close the hosts down. Epsom managed to gain a number of corners around the hour mark as the hosts started to make Cove perform mistakes. An unnecessary contact by a Cove defender on 61 minutes from a Dale Marvell cross saw the ball knocked out for an Epsom corner, Daniel Ike's short corner to Dale Marvell saw the Epsom captain float a ball into the back post finding Tim Hurren with a volley that Neil Phillips tried to block but the power on the shot saw it still manage to creep in. The goal saw Epsom turn up a gear for the next ten minutes as Cove allowed Epsom to press them back into their own half, only last ditch defending saw Cove prevent Epsom the opportunity to have a shot. Adam Pero attempted a shot on 71 minutes but his effort managed to hit two Cove defender to deflect it wide for another corner. Epsom & Ewell for the final twenty minutes kept spreading the ball out to Daniel Ike on the right wing to go on bursting runs down the wing before cutting in and forcing a corner. Cove were allowed one drive on 89 minutes, but Pierre Bourdet was able to allow the shot across the face of his six yard box go wide for a goal kick. Saturday 25th November 2006 Our match away at Sandhurst Town has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch Wednesday 22nd November 2006 Epsom & Ewell's youth team underperformed this evening to bow out of the Surrey Midweek Floodlight Cup at Merland Rise by the odd goal. Epsom & Ewell were sluggish all night and it only took one lapse in concentration on 47 minutes to concede the only goal of the match, Carshalton Athletic floating a corner to the unmarked player standing on the front post to head home with the remainder of the home side assuming a long corner to the back post where the majority were standing. Zach Powell nearly managed to find the net on 67 minutes to draw the scores level with a volley that thundered off the top of the bar - the visitors deserving their victory. Youth Fixture changes Staines have informed us that the youth fixture away to them on Wednesday 06th December has been moved back 24 hours to Thursday 07th December. The away league match against Godalming Town on Wednesday 13th December has been postponed so that we can play our Grant McLellan Youth Cup 1st Round 1st Leg match away at Cove that night, with the home leg being played at Merland Rise on Wednesday 10th January 2007. Tuesday 21st November 2006 Epsom & Ewell and North Greenford United battled out an entertaining draw but both sides failed to find the back of the net. Epsom & Ewell were without the suspended Tim Hurren for tonight's match but welcomed Jon Boswell into the back line who has joined on a month's loan from AFC Wimbledon, this was the only change from the line-up that started at home to Cobham 10 days ago. The only first half notable events saw Epsom's Jon Boswell's header off a Dale Marvell corner after 27 minutes go just over the bar and a North Greenford corner saw Jon Hill manage to head the ball home but the referee had already blown for a huge shove on Peter Solomon in the box. The second half chances saw Dale Marvell hit a dipping volley that North Greenford keeper Alex Rossis manage to block on 63 minutes and a suicidal pass at the back on 67 minutes trying to find Pierre Bourdet saw Liam Bird steal in but his shot was saved by Epsom keeper Bourdet with a one handed block to his right to divert the ball high and wide of his goal. North Greenford were reduced to ten men on 82 minutes when Daniel Hughes who was already booked for a two footed challenge on Jamie Watson on 61 minutes received his marching orders for a second yellow card when the referee felt that he had heard enough dissent from the visitors midfielder. Monday 20th November 2006 Epsom & Ewell's reserve ended up losing 3-2 despite leading Molesey twice. Andy Amfo-Brobbey gave the E's the lead on 20 minutes when he picked up the ball inside the penalty area managing to to loop the ball into the top corner from 12 yards out. Molesey were fortunate to get back into the match on 41 minutes when the Molesey centre-forward performed a jump and acrobatic tumble to fool the referee into awarding a penalty which was converted. Epsom & Ewell were denied a penalty in the final minute of the half when Daniel Nicholls was sent tumbling just inside the box. Epsom & Ewell should have had a penalty on 62 minutes but were again denied by the referee when Julian Phillips was pole axed inside the box with a challenge from the side. The lead was restored for Epsom on 75 minutes, a free-kick was flicked clear to Andy Amfo-Brobbey for him to volley the ball at goal from the edge of the box, the Molesey keeper only parried it and Julian Phillips volleyed the ball home from 12 yards out. Molesey were level on 80 minutes, the ball being lost in the midfield by Epsom seeing a ball directly down the field for the Molesey player to chase and guide the ball wide of Tim Farrington into the net. The defence were at pieces in the 87th minute seeing a diagonal ball find a Molesey player able to coast into the region where the left back should have been to collect the ball and roll it past Farrington from 12 yards out. Sunday 19th November 2006 Supporters who attended the Cobham match last weekend might of heard the news that long time supporter Wilf Smith had passed away. Wilf's funeral service will take place at Randalls Park Crematorium, Leatherhead this Tuesday (21st November) commencing at 11:45 a.m. It is requested that there should not be any flowers but donations should be made to the Alzheimer's Society.
Reproduced below is an obituary of Wilf written by President Stella Lamont that was included in the Cobham programme last weekend: No person served Epsom and Ewell Football Club longer than Wilf. Wilf was born on the 6th August 1920 and first got involved with Epsom & Ewell in 1934 assisting his mum in the tea bar. Later he ran the tea bar himself. It was after WW2 when he took on more duties. First he helped the team on training nights, then he ran the supporters club and progressed to overseeing the dressing-room and keeping the football kit in order, laying it out ready before matches and collecting it ready for away games. In the seventies and eighties he also served on the club committee. Managers he could recall were Jock Whitehead, Peter Norris, Jimmy Smith, Sid Burstow (trainer/manager), Pat Lynch (player/manager), Fred Chitty and Tony Williams (producer of the Non league Football Annual). The largest gate he would have seen was for the 1934 FA Cup tie against Leytonstone. Wilf lived in West Street just along the road from the football club with his wife Betty who also helped at the club. He worked as a pastry cook at Coombes bakery at Twickenham. (I can remember some of the pastries he made himself for special parties which were truly exceptional). Alongside football he enjoyed watching horse racing, boxing, snooker and going caravaning. Wilf joined the army in 1940 serving with the artillery coastal defence in the Orkneys, Bland and Scapa Flow. He then went to India & Malaya in the field artillery as a signals gunner.
Saturday 18th November 2006 The friendly away at Farleigh Rovers has been postponed as their pitch is waterlogged Friday 17th November 2006 Farleigh Rovers have reported that their pitch was heavily waterlogged last night, they will be conducting another inspection tonight but with the rainfall today the hosts expect that the pitch is in a bad state at the moment and the friendly is in doubt Banstead Athletic will be inspecting the main Merland Rise pitch at 8:30 tomorrow morning ahead of their FA Vase game, if their match is forced to be postponed the game will be re-scheduled to take place on Tuesday night meaning our fixture at home to North Greenford United will have to be postponed. Unless the rain manages to abate for a number of days the Reserve team fixture on Monday and the youth fixture on Wednesday are both likely to be postponed as well. Thursday 16th November 2006 Epsom & Ewell's Southern Youth League match away at Cobham tonight has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. The youth team's next match will be next Wednesday night at home to Carshalton Athletic in the Surrey Midweek Floodlight Cup Saturday 11th November 2006 Epsom & Ewell gained all three points with another 3-0 victory, this time at home to Cobham at Merland Rise. Epsom & Ewell started the brighter with the majority of the pressure being on the Cobham defence. Dale Marvell saw his free-kick on 10 minutes hit the wall after Jamie Watson had been fouled on the edge of the box, the home side's pressure paying off on 25 minutes when a Jamie Watson chip was flicked on by Adam Pero finding Simon Hatton to lift the ball from 20 yards out over the Cobham keeper Rory Parsons standing on the edge of his own six yard box. Epsom & Ewell were denied a blatant penalty on 38 minutes, Dale Marvell's corner finding Daniel Ike with a downward header, Tim Hurren's turn and shot seeing Duncan Evans use his hand to keep the ball out of the net. Epsom & Ewell had an almost identical start to the second half as that at
Bookham last week, Epsom & Ewell from the restart spread the ball out to the
right wing, Jamie Watson's cross seeing Adam Pero miss the ball with an
attempted header, Simon Hatton picking up the loose ball to go past two Cobham
players in the box before firing high into the net from 15 yards out. The goal
seemed to dampen the spirits of the visitors as Epsom & Ewell started to carve
the Cobham defence apart for the remainder of the half. Jamie Watson was sent
clear on 58 minutes, Rory Parsons came flying off his line to try to make a
clean interception to stop Watson's run in the box, the loose ball trying to be
cleared was smashed against Parsons' back, Simon Hatton's effort from the edge
of the area arrowing away. Adam Pero managed to get the better of Ryan Anderson
on 65 minutes, his cross finding Dale Marvell on the back post with an overhead
bicycle kick that went just over the crossbar. Dale Marvell's corner to the back
post found Daniel Ike with a downward header after 68 minutes, Nicky Andrews
blocking on the post, the ball hitting Ike and bouncing across the box for Adam
Pero to fire just wide. Darren Brown was shown a straight red after 78 minutes
after trying to break up a minor fracas, but Daniel Ike managed to seal all
three points after 83 minutes with a spectacular effort, Dale Marvell's
free-kick floated out to Ike on the right wing who sent the Cobham defender the
wrong way with a step over before curling the ball from 25 yards out into the
far corner of the net. Reserves create plentiful chances but fall to late strikes Epsom & Ewell's Reserves came away from Godalming ruing their inability to
convert their chances. Epsom & Ewell took the lead on 30 minutes through Ismael
Baker from the penalty spot but inability to put away chances cost Epsom the
chance of gaining all three points, with Reserve team manager Matt Tebbutt
saying that Epsom could have chalked up double figures. A late rally by
Godalming Town in the final twenty minutes saw the hosts take all three points
to draw level on points with Epsom. Club News Epsom & Ewell with no match next Saturday have accepted an invitation from Combined Counties Division 1 side Farleigh Rovers to play a friendly next Saturday afternoon (kick-off 2pm). Epsom & Ewell during the past week have seen two new players join the club. Jamie Hatfield has joined from Burgess Hill Town and played for the first sixty minutes of the first team match at Merland Rise today before being forced off with an injury. Jamie (20) who lives locally can play either as a left back or left midfield and came through Corinthian Casuals ranks before moving on to Burgess Hill Town whilst he was studying at Brighton University. Ismael Baker who scored the reserves goal at Godalming Town has also joined the club after he was released by Egham Town last month, although he is currently unable to play for the first team whilst his Combined Counties League registration is transferred. Today was a historic day for the club as Colts Under 16 keeper Ed Humphreys became the first Epsom & Ewell Colts player to come through and play for Epsom & Ewell. Due to a mini goalkeeper shortage, Matt Tebbutt was forced to call upon the services of Ed to play in goal at Godalming today for the Reserves and according to reports received he made a number of fine saves. Ed was named as one of the substitutes for our youth team's FA Youth Cup tie away at Ramsgate last month. There is no respite for Ed as he will be back in action tomorrow lunchtime when he will be between the sticks for the Colts Under 16's Surrey Cup match at home to Carshalton Athletic being played at Racal Decca (Kick-off 12:30pm) Wednesday 08th November 2006 Epsom & Ewell managed to gain all three points with a 1-0 victory at home to Leatherhead at Merland Rise. The away side's supporters were out in force ahead of their club's visit to Torquay United's Plainmoor on Saturday afternoon in the first round of the FA Cup, and it seemed that the home team were still hung-over and thinking about the Ramsgate match a fortnight ago and the FA Youth Cup 1st Round match away at Brighton that was incidentally also being played tonight. Epsom were lethargic throughout the first half but managed to score what proved to be the only goal of the match on 9 minutes when Alex Bailey's corner found an unmarked Ruben Lavrado to cushion a downward header past Leatherhead keeper Luke Atkinson from 6 yards out. Panic in the Epsom box after 15 minutes saw Dan Cunningham and Alfred Akiotu forced into making despairing blocking tackles to keep Epsom ahead. The visitors were making it hard work for the home side with their quick closing down to prevent the E's from creating chances but one rare occurrence was on 39 minutes when Matt Keddo's cross from just inside the Leatherhead half found Lavrado with a bullet header that flashed wide of the post from 10 yards out. The second half saw a more composed Epsom side come out of the dressing room and the introduction of Zach Powell who was still nursing an injury from Saturday's reserve team match at Merstham seemed to stabilise the side which saw the normal Epsom fluency suddenly come back as the chances started to arrive for the Epsom strikers. Dan Cunningham arrived on the back post after 72 minutes to head a Zach Powell free-kick back across the face of goal for Yousef Conteh to manage to head the ball into the side netting from 6 yards out. Ruben Lavrado held off a defender on 76 minutes to roll the ball into Powell to hit a fizzing shot from 20 yards out that clipped the top of the crossbar and Alex Bailey sent Ruben Lavrado away on 80 minutes, the Epsom striker seeing his shot from 15 yards out only just go over the bar. The result has managed to take the E's back to the top of the division two points clear of Godalming Town following Godalming's goal less draw at Ashford Town last week. Monday 06th November 2006 Epsom & Ewell managed to lose the Suburban League South Division six pointer at home to East Grinstead Town 2-1 this evening. It was obvious that both sides wanted the win as East Grinstead put out five first team regulars and Epsom starting with seven of the eleven that started at Bookham on Saturday, as Lyndon Buckwell decided to use this match to have another look at the first team squad. Epsom made the worst possible start, the kick off saw the ball spread to Tim Hurren to knock the ball back to Epsom keeper Tim Farrington to roll it back out to Dan Cunningham, the youth team centre half not receiving any information from his team mates of the impending danger which saw him disposed of the ball as he attempted to turn with the ball, East Grinstead floating the ball to the back post for an unmarked visiting player to slot home from 7 yards out after just 16 seconds. The scoreline was doubled on eight minutes, Peter Solomon coming back from injury underhit a pass back to Tim Farrington seeing an East Grinstead striker nip in to poke the ball away from Farrington's gloves and roll it into the empty net from 10 yards out on a narrow angle. Epsom & Ewell sparked into life with the realisation that they were two down, youth midfielder Alex Bailey spread the ball into the path of Dale Marvell to whip a cross in that saw Simon Hatton manage to get a header in that flashed just wide of the post from 10 yards out on 21 minutes. Epsom managed to reduce the arrears on 23 minutes, Mark Styles on the right wing managed to play the ball into Adam Pero, the Epsom striker cutting the ball back trying to find Jamie Watson arriving on the edge of the six yard box found East Grinstead keeper Rajajay Suivwray's gloves as he managed to punch the ball into his own net. Daniel Ike played Adam Pero in on 42 minutes, the Epsom striker managing to drag his shot aimed for the far corner wide of the post with Mark Styles screaming out for the pass. Epsom found it difficult to create chances in the second half, the two chances created by Epsom saw Jamie Watson climb to head wide a Danny Barnes cross on 64 minutes and Ruben Lavrado was presented with a half chance off a Julian Phillips cross on 78 minutes, but his effort from 12 yards out was just over the top of the crossbar. Saturday 04th November 2006 Epsom & Ewell came away from Dorking's Meadowbank where Bookham play their matches with all three points with a comfortable 3-0 victory under new manager Lyndon Buckwell. Epsom only made one change from the side that lost against Wembley last Saturday, Simon Hatton who had rejoined the club during the week coming in for Gaye Siby. Bookham had an early appeal for a penalty appeal turned down by the referee within the first minute of the match but it was Epsom that grew to dominate the match from the quarter hour mark onwards. Julian Phillips had connected with a Dale Marvell corner on 8 minutes that saw the ball flash wide of the far post and Epsom should have been ahead on 15 minutes when Adam Pero was sent away down the right wing to provide a pinpoint cross for Simon Hatton 8 yards out to manage somehow to side foot the ball wide of the far post. Bookham provided Epsom with the lead on the half hour mark when a Julian Phillips clearance saw Bookham defender Daniel Buss and keeper Wayne Sturman both call for the ball before managing to bang into each other on the edge of the Bookham area, Adam Pero collecting the loose ball and rolling it into the empty net. Epsom & Ewell seemed to get a nose bleed back in their own box for the final five minutes of the half when a string of Bookham corner's saw Pierre Bourdet forced to make a point blank save off the first corner, Mark Styles and Tim Hurren managing to make goal line blocks off the second corner and Julian Phillips to make a goal line headed clearance off the third corner. Bookham were fortunate not to be further behind going into half time when a cross by Daniel Ike deep in injury time saw a comical defence display by the home side, Kevin Ward and Daniel Carnota both came for the same ball and managed to collide allowing the ball to spin off the Bookham duo over keeper Wayne Sturman who had come out for the anticipated header back, Simon Hatton unable to catch the loose ball as it rolled out for a corner. Epsom & Ewell could not have asked for a better start to the second half, a string of passes through the Bookham midfield seeing the ball laid out to Daniel Barnes on the right wing, his whipped in cross seeing Daniel Carnota and Adam Pero both jump for the ball but miss, the ball skidding through the box finding Jamie Watson arriving on the back post with a header from 10 yards out past Wayne Sturman to double the lead. Epsom started to play the ball around very comfortably as the visitors looked to extend the lead eve further. A Dale Marvell free-kick on 62 minutes was floated into the box, Simon Hatton knocking the ball down for Adam Pero to hit a first time shot from 15 yards out through a crowded penalty area forcing Bookham keeper Wayne Sturman to make a diving save to his right that he did well to hold on to. Adam Pero managed to roll off Kevin Ward on 64 minutes to collect a Daniel Ike pass down the right wing, managing to beat one challenge his effort from 12 yards out forced Wayne Sturman to push the ball into the side netting. Bookham were reduced to ten men for the final eight minutes when Ritchie Gridley received a second yellow card after a cynical tackle on Joseph Maye, his first one in the first half was identical when he managed to injure Darren Brown. Epsom & Ewell sealed the win on 84 minutes, Andy Amfo-Brobbey managing to pick up a loose ball after Joseph Maye had lost the ball, the Epsom midfielder skipping past two Bookham players to surge to the goal line, his pass across the Bookham area finding Jamie Watson on the penalty spot, Watson managing to evade a challenge with a side step allowing himself time to gain a better position to shoot the ball home past Wayne Sturman. Epsom nearly added a fourth on 88 minutes as they went for route one straight down the middle of the park, the ball being played into Adam Pero by Jamie Watson seeing the Epsom striker run the ball from just inside the Bookham half and evade three challenges before firing a shot from 15 yards out trying to beat Bookham keeper Wayne Sturman on his near post but the home keeper made a fine save to his left to deflect it wide of the post. Youth gain excellent point for reserves against Merstham Epsom & Ewell's reserves came back from Merstham with a point thanks to a 3-3 draw. Youth team managers Steve Butt and Derek Rogers along with Matt Tebbutt were put in charge of this fixture as the reserves were made up mainly of the current youth team with some additional players from last year's youth team. Epsom & Ewell were level 1-1 at half-time with last year's youth team top scorer Ben Radford scoring the E's goal. This season's top scorer for the youth team Ruben Lavrado managed to add two second half strikes to his tally of ten goals in seven youth team matches to put Epsom 3-2 ahead but due to a shortage of substitutes and injuries sustained, the E's were forced to play the final ten minutes with only 9 players which allowed Merstham to snatch a point. Thursday
02nd November 2006 I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those at the club who I have worked with at Epsom & Ewell. It was with a heavy heart that I took the decision to leave the club. I was fully aware that a new manager would bring with him a new assistant so I could see there would be no role for me within the club. I do believe that I have showed a large amount of commitment to the club and with some of the players and ideas I have helped to develop I do believe the club is now in a stronger position to move forward for success. I would like to thank the players for embracing the new ideas that I introduced to them and I believe these will stand them in good stead for the coming season. I would like to thank the coaches who worked tirelessly to help me in trying to improve the team. Neal Hallac, Matt Tebutt, Gareth Davies, and later on Larry Rarajay and Keith Levett. I would also like to send a big thank you to Kevin Taylor and John Carlton for keeping the players fit and healthy and for their terrible jokes that kept the players on the training field. I would also like to thank members of the committee for their support as you deserve success. As I said earlier the club is now in a position to move forward and with the information I have left with the chairman, Epsom can once again be a force in non league football. I wish everyone at the club the best of luck and I will be seeing you all soon in the near future. Peter Augustine
First team management line-up Following on from the club's announcement last weekend that Lyndon Buckwell has been appointed first team manager, the club are pleased to announce that Lyndon has managed to secure the services of another former Epsom player Tony Coombe as assistant manager and John Chapman as coach. Last season Lyndon, Tony & John were the management team that helped Corinthian Casuals to win the Suburban League South Division title.
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