Midweek Musings

Our midweek feast of football commenced Monday Evening at Bedfont & Feltham who on behalf of Epsom Athletic very kindly agreed to avail their facilities to the 'Blue Stallions'. Worcester Park secured a very comfortable 6-0 victory on the night thanks to goals from Tom Costelloe(3), Joe Cheeseman(2) and one courtesy of James Dunning which mindful of their recent dip in form was a most welcome maximum points haul albeit against the bottom side in Division One who have now conceded 76 goals in their 25 league games played so far this season.

On Tuesday evening Ashford Town were paired against fellow Premier Division high flyers Camberley Town in the Cherry Red Records Premier Challenge Cup, the reward for the winners of this highly mouth watering tie being a place in the Final which will be held at Stag Meadow Windsor against either Farnham Town or Cobham who play their tie Tuesday 19th April.

The evening saw Camberley take an early lead, through Doug Ford in the 4th minute. Despite this early setback the 'Ash Trees' battled hard to get back on level terms and Dan Fleming was unlucky with an effort that hit both posts before rebounding to safety. Minutes later though, the visitors doubled their advantage through Matt Bunyan.
Ashford had plenty of possession in the second half but rarely looked as if they could pull the game round and Bunyan made it completely safe for Camberley with his side’s 3rd goal fifteen minutes from the end.

Hartley Wintney stretched their lead at the top to a massive eleven points following a hard fought 2-1 win at Molesey the temporary home for Chessington & Hook for the evening. Two Dean Stow goals settled the issue on the night which saw 'Chessy' put up a good fight.

Epsom & Ewell secured league win number 24 in emphatic style following their trip to AFC Hayes along with ensuring at least a top four league placing come end of the season following a 7-0 mauling being inflicted upon their hosts who at times looked good going forward but were unable to convert this into goals. Reisse Griffin got the show on the road for the 'Salts' and from then onwards the goals rattled in as the goal total reached four without reply by half-time. Second half goals brough the tally to seven on the evening without any reply from AFC Hayes.

Hosts Knaphill, thanks to goals from Yassa Kabuye, Charlie Postance, Tim Taylor and an own goal, set up a 4-2 victory against Hanworth Villa at Brookwood Country Park. Lawrie Shennan and Jesse Atiase replied for the visitors.

Phil Page scored the only goal after two minutes as visitors Sutton Common Rovers ran out 1-0 winners at Farnham Town. A similar scoreline was recorded at Raynes Park Vale where Sam Marks scored the all important winner for visitors Redhill.

Of the three games in Division One on Tuesday evening just Dorking secured a maximum points haul at the expense of visitors Farleigh Rovers by a 4-1 margin. Two Glen Wright goals plus one goal each from Martin Smith and Daniel Bransbury saw the 'Chicks' home and dry despite briefly being pegged back at 2-0. Overall it was a most satisfactory performance for the hosts on the evening against a side who were a mere shadow of last season.

Dorking Wanderers Reserves and high flying Eversley & California shared the spoils in a very highly entertaining encounter over at the West Humble Playing Fields, whilst South Park Reserves and visitors Banstead Athletic shared four goals at Whitehill Lane to seriously dent any promotion aspirations Banstead Athletic may have had prior to going into the game.

Just the one game Wednesday evening this saw the Epsom Athletic versus Sandhurst Town Division
One game switched to Sandhurst Town following mutual agreement amongst all parties concerned. In this, their second midweek game, initial hopes were for a better showing than that of the game against Worcester Park Monday evening. Thankfully this was achieved by virtue of a 1-1 scoreline.

As a result Epsom Athletic pulled themselves of the bottom of the Division One table, a position now occupied by Farleigh Rovers. It really is getting very tight at both ends of the division to make for a fantastic end of season run-in.

Our two Premier Division games played Thursday evening saw Horley Town who agreed to stage their away fixture against Chessington & Hook at the New Defence. Score wise this was very much a one sided encounter as Horley Town racked up an 8-1 victory, whilst over at West Street things were far closer as they and Westfield went head to head resulting in the away team recording a 2-1 win on the night.

In Division One thanks to goals from Tom Arnold (10 minutes), and then a couple Paul Hodges goals on fifty and sixty five minutes secured a 3-1 win for Abbey Rangers at Dorking Wanderers Reserves, to send them top of their division in a closely fought contest that actually saw the hosts draw level courtesy of a converted penalty twenty minutes into play. However these two Hodges goals ensured a happy evening for the visitors.