2002/03
Season

Pre-Season Friendly Review

Friendly

August
2002

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

Thursday 25th July -
Carshalton Athletic Youth 5  Epsom and
Ewell Youth 3

Team:

Joe Symons; Steve
Brockwell, Simon Daniel, Andy Wild, Dean Townsend; Terry Holmes, Joe Martin,
Chris Barnes, Richard Smith; Yassir Omer, Michael Lawson

Subs: Chris Lewin,
Russell Coombe

Scorers: Terry Holmes
(38 mins 1-1), Michael Lawson (52 mins 2-3), Richard Smith (87 mins 3-5)

Epsom
& Ewell 0-3 Tonbridge Angels

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
28th August 2002

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

Epsom and Ewell’s
reformed Youth side under the management of Tony Coombe and Andy Dunne opened
their Southern Youth League programme at Merland Rise on Wednesday, a chance
for them to take the lead midway through the first half when a pass from
Terry Holmes picked out Craig Dunne, a big touch took the ball past the
‘keeper, but out for a goal-kick.

A half-cleared corner
saw Chris Lewin fire over and John Mooney was just wide from a Holmes pass,
but Tonbridge virtually settled the game with two goals in first-half
stoppage time, a long range effort and a header from a corner.

The second half saw an
Andy Banyon free kick just wide but Tonbridge added a third after 74 minutes.

Epsom and Ewell:

Adam Glaied, David
Barrett, Andy Banyon, Andy Wylde, Darren Stones, Chris Barnes, Terry Holmes,
Craig Dunne, John Mooney, Ryan Russell, Chris Lewin.

Subs:  Mark Smith for Russell 63 mins, Barry
Hurley for Mooney 73 mins, Gary Wells for Barnes 81 mins., Neil Gladden, Joe
Simons (not used).

Epsom
& Ewell 2-2 East Grinstead Town

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
16th October 2002

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

A disappointing end to a
game in which we held a 2-0 lead, we faded badly and hopefully manager Tony
Coombe’s comments about attendance at training will have the desired effect.

‘Keeper Adam Glaied
failed to show so defender Steve Brockwell was forced to play in goal and we
were gifted a goal after 4 minutes when a high ball into the box from Craig
Dunne saw an East Grinstead defender lose the ball in the lights and head
past his own ‘keeper.

After 14 minutes we went
further ahead, Terry Holmes picking up a crossfield ball and scoring in fine
style, Brett Mason headed a Darragh Corrigan cross just wide and two minutes
before the interval, Steve Brockwell, who up to this stage had been a virtual
spectator, made an excellent save pushing a shot round the post for a corner.

East Grinstead pulled a
goal back after 44 minutes and the second half is best forgotten, frustration
at some extremely officious refereeing began to take over, Terry Holmes and
Russell Coombe were both booked, absolutely no doubt that Russell was the innocent
party, a fact that was obvious to most of the players and spectators, and the
visitors dominated most of the latter stages, they hit the angle of post and
bar with a header and finally equalised after 76 minutes.

Darragh Corrigan, who
should have been the player cautioned when Coombe had his name taken, picked
up a late booking for a foul that barely seemed to warrant a caution.

Team:

Steve Brockwell, Terry
Holmes (sub. Mark Smith 75 mins), Andy
Banyon, John Mooney, Andy Wylde, Darragh Corrigan, Russell Coombe,
Craig Dunne, Daniel Green (sub. Neil Gladden 65 mins), James Daley (sub.
Barry Hurley 84 mins), Brett Mason.

Other sub: Darren Stones
(not used).

Epsom
& Ewell 2-2 Three Bridges

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
15th January 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

Playing only their
second game since the end of October, the Youth team should be well pleased
with the result at Merland Rise on Wednesday, facing a Three Bridges side who
had played just 6 league games (won four, drawn one and lost just one, 2-1
when we visited them in September) and had just finished an impressive F.A.
Youth Cup run.

Three Bridges had beaten
Hailsham Town (6-0), Eastbourne Town (5-3 a.e.t), Bracknell Town (4-1) in the
qualifying rounds, in the 1st Round Proper they beat Hitchin Town 5-2 to earn a 2nd Round tie
away to Cardiff City, where they lost 1-3.

The visitors hit the bar
before we took the lead after 9 minutes, Daniel Green’s chip over
back-pedalling ‘keeper Fox appeared to have been well saved, only for the
‘keeper to drop the ball on landing, and it trickled slowly over the line.

Bridges equalised after
16 minutes through Greenidge, but we were unlucky not to regain the lead
after half an hour when a long clearance from Joe Simons sent James Daley
clear, he rolled the ball past the advancing ‘keeper only for it to hit the
inside of the post and rebound across goal but we had better luck three
minutes later from Mark Smith’s free-kick, which the visiting defence
half-cleared, the ball falling to Elio Escoffery who scored with a sweet shot
from the edge of the area.

Three Bridges nearly
equalised within a minute when Joyce’s shot hit both posts and stayed out and
Elio Escoffery nearly added a third, but his shot across goal was just wide
of the far post.

Two good saves from Joe
Simons kept us in front at the interval, but Bridges equalised five minutes
into the second half, but a good touch from James Daley laid on a chance for
Escoffery to force Fox into a low save.

The game ended on a sour
note with Bridges’ Thornback sent off in the last minute for a foul on Mark
Smith, seconds after picking up a yellow card for a similar offence.

Epsom and Ewell:  Joe Simons, Daragh Corrigan (sub. Neil
Gladden 68 mins), Steve Brockwell, Andy Wylde, John Mooney, Russell Coombe,
Mark Smith, Chris Barnes, James Daley, Elio Escoffery, Daniel Green.

East
Grinstead Town 0-3 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
6th February 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

Despite taking the pitch
with the shortest of warm-ups, and a bare eleven players due to late
withdrawals, this was an impressive performance from Andy Dunne’s squad on a
heavy, but flat surface at East Grinstead.

Kiel Ramjohn came in for
his debut after joining from Cobham, and he gave us the lead after 11 minutes
cutting in from the left to score with a low shot across the ‘keeper into the
bottom corner.

Mark Smith had a shot
parried by the ‘keeper and the home side should have been reduced to 10 men
when James Daley sent Barry Hurley clear, he was pulled down unceremoniously
by a defender just outside the box, surprisingly the offender escaped with a
yellow card, and East Grinstead had another defender booked for dragging back
Ramjohn, but the home side had a couple of chances near the break, which were
saved by Joe Simons.

East Grinstead hit the
post right on the break, but after Joe Simons had made a good save from a
shot that had taken a deflection, we dominated most of the second half, their
‘keeper back-pedalled to keep out a 40-yard chip from Mark Smith and we
increased our lead after 65 minutes, a strong run from Daragh Corrigan saw
him slip the ball to Barry Hurley, who despite being forced out wide, scored
with a shot that beat the ‘keeper on his near post.

East Grinstead again hit
the post and we added a third after 76 minutes, a corner was half-cleared to
Darren Stones who curled his shot round the ‘keeper in fine style from the
corner of the box.

We nearly added a fourth
but Barry Hurley just couldn’t connect with Mark Smith’s cross and the home
side were reduced to 10 men in the last minute.

Team: Joe Simons, Darren
Stones, Daragh Corrigan, Neil Gladden, John Mooney, Daniel Green, Russell
Coombe, Kiel Ramjohn, James Daley, Mark Smith, Barry Hurley.

Epsom
& Ewell 4-1 Merstham

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
5th March 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

The Youth team had a
relatively comfortable win over Merstham at Merland Rise, we took the lead
after 11 minutes when a Merstham defender put an Elio Escoffery cross past
his own ‘keeper, and after Escoffery had hit the bar, Russell Coombe
increased the lead with a screamer from 25 yards.

Escoffery again hit the
woodwork before Merstham pulled a goal back in the opening minutes of the
second half but Escoffery headed in a Nick Johnson cross for Epsom’s third
after 62 minutes, and the fourth did not come until eight minutes from time,
Escofffery again the scorer, with his second of the game from a corner.

Team:

Adam Glaied, Darren
Stones, Mark Solomon, Chris Barnes, John Mooney, Greg Daniels, Mark Smith,
Russell Coombe, Kiel Ramjohn, Elio Escoffery, Nick Johnson.

Epsom
& Ewell 4-1 Merstham

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
5th March 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell won
4-1 at home to Merstham. Epsom & Ewell took the lead after 10 minutes
when a Merstham defender kneed the ball over his own goalkeeper.

Coombe doubled the lead
on 29 minutes with a well taken 20 yard shot.

Merstham got a goal back
on 47 minutes but Escoffery finished off the scoring with a 65th minute
header from 5 yards out and a 86th minute shot into the far corner from
around the penalty spot.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-1 Chessington & Hook United

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
19th March 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

A very impressive win
for Andy Dunne’s squad over the former South Division leaders at Merland
Rise, taking their recent record to four wins and a draw from the last five
games.

A full squad to select
from, the suspended Daragh Corrigan being the only absentee, and there were
few chances for either side in the first half, although the visitors went
close in the final minute of the half but a shot from Manolis was wide.

The second 45 minutes
was far better, we continued to push the ball around with a lot of confidence
and style, James Daley was close with a shot across the far post and the
Chessington ‘keeper spread himself well to keep out a shot from Elio
Escoffery.

Daley was well wide with
another effort from an Escoffery pass and we finally went ahead after 69
minutes, a good turn from Daley and he squared the ball across the box for
Escoffery to run the ball in at the far post.

We went further head
after 78 minutes, Daley ramming in a textbook header from a Chris Barnes
cross, but Chessington came on strong in the closing stages, Adam Glaied made
a great save to keep out a shot from Slee, and they pulled a goal back with a
minute left through Greetham, but with help of some stout defending led by
Andy Wylde and John Mooney, we survived an amazing eight and a half minutes
stoppage time to record a well-deserved win.

Epsom & Ewell:  Adam Glaied, Darren Stones (sub. Neil
Gladden 84 mins), Mark Solomon, Andy Wylde, John Mooney, Mark Smith, Chris
Barnes, Russell Coombe, James Daley (sub. Billy Hicks 89 mins), Elio
Escoffery (sub. Kiel Ramjohn 78 mins), Daniel Green.  Other sub: Gregg Daniels

Epsom
& Ewell 2-1 Chessington & Hook United

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
19th March 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth team continued their fine form after winning at home to Chessington
& Hook United at Merland Rise.

The result was well
deserved with the team playing their best football of the season and a number
of individuals put in excellent performances throughout the match against
Chessington & Hook United who are flying high by being third in the
league.

After a goal less first
half, Epsom & Ewell took the lead mid way through the second half when
Elio Escoffery volleyed the ball past the Chessington & Hook United
keeper after a good build up by the Epsom & Ewell midfielders.

Epsom & Ewell
increased the lead a couple of minutes before the end of normal time when a
pin point cross by Chris Barnes found the head of James Daley at the far post
whose textbook header thundered into the back of the net.

Chessington & Hook
United scored a consolation in the first couple of minutes of injury time to
set up a grandstand finish, but Epsom & Ewell secured the points
eventually after the referee played nearly 9 minutes of injury time.

Crawley
Town 3-3 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
27th March 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

A well-deserved point at
Broadfield Stadium on Thursday, six games unbeaten after the uncertain, and
difficult start to the season, and against a side that were third in the
table Andy Dunne’s squad acquitted themselves very well.

Despite being without
Adam Glaied and Andy Wylde, we took the lead after eight minutes with a gem
of a goal, a big diagonal ball from Chris Barnes picked out Elio Escoffery
just outside the corner of the box, he cut inside and curled a delicate shot
over ‘keeper Pye into the top corner.

Joe Simons pushed out a
shot from Danahar and the Crawley ‘keeper had to be quickly off his line to
block a powerful run down the left by Kiel Ramjohn, and he was called into
action again as our pace upfront opened up the home defence, charging out of
his box to head Escoffery’s pass away from James Daley.

Dodsworth had a shot
deflected for a corner before we went further ahead after 28 minutes, Ramjohn
sending Escoffery clear with the home defence appealing for offside,
Escoffery showing great composure to calmly roll the ball past the advancing
Pye for his fifth goal in three games.

Crawley did get the
benefit of a poor decision minutes later, Ramjohn bursting through the home
defence, only for the referee’s assistant to flag for offside against another
Epsom forward. Simons again did well to block out a shot from Dodsworth but
Crawley pulled a goal back after 42 minutes, Danahar scoring from a Sadough
pass.

Daragh Corrigan came on
for Daniel Green, who had taken a heavy knock, and Pye was quickly off his
line to hack a Russell Coombe pass away from Daley, and after Neil Gladden
had come on for Russell Coombe at the break, we regained our two-goal
advantage within a minute of the restart, James Daley getting infront of a
defender at the near-post to sidefoot home a Mark Smith cross.

The game drifted
somewhat, bookings for Chris Barnes and John Mooney for fouls, joined by
Crawley’s Buchan for dissent, were somewhat out of place in a game that was
played in the best of spirits and we had confident penalty appeals turned
down when Daragh Corrigan latched onto Mark Smith’s through ball, the
shirt-tug was just enough to check his run, the ‘keeper coming out to block,
but the referee appeared to have been unsighted.

Crawley pulled a goal
back after 70 minutes, Chris Barnes losing the ball in midfield, enabling
Danahar to cut inside and score with a low shot and they equalised three
minutes later, Danahar spreading the ball out wide to Shaheen Sadough, who
had appeared in Crawley’s 1st XI earlier in the week and scored in their 3-0 win at
Grantham, and he beat Simons with a well-struck low drive.  Crawley were the stronger in the latter
stages, Danahar headed over, Kizza put a left-foot shot wide and it needed
some intelligent defending by John Mooney to force Kirby out wide, his final
shot going high over the bar,

Mooney hooked the ball
off the line from a free-kick, and Joe Simons ensured we left with a point
with a late block from Dodsworth.

Crawley’s Dixon was
booked for a last-minute foul on Escoffery.

Epsom and Ewell:  Joe Simons, Darren Stones, Mark Solomon,
Chris Barnes, John Mooney, Mark Smith, Daniel Green (sub. Daragh Corrigan 42
mins), Russell Coombe (sub. Neil Gladden 45 mins), James Daley, Elio
Escoffery, Kiel Ramjohn.

Crawley
Town 3-3 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
27th March 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell gave a
good performance against Crawley Town youth side.

Epsom & Ewell lead
by two early goals from Elio Escoffery, Crawley pulled a goal back four
minutes before the break.

In the second half James
Daley extended our lead to 3-1 within two minutes of the restart but Crawley
levelled with 2 goals within five minutes around the 75th minute mark.

Tonbridge
Angels 3-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
3rd April 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

The first defeat in
seven games for Epsom and Ewell’s Youth side at second-placed Tonbridge
Angels on Thursday, but they can take credit from a positive performance
against a very good, and more experienced Tonbridge side.

They were without the
injured John Mooney and with ‘keeper Joe Simons dropping out through illness
just hours before the kick-off, they gave a debut to 15-year old Jake Hopper
who showed that Epsom have a very promising ‘keeper in the making.

Epsom took the lead
after just three minutes, Elio Escoffery picking up a Mark Smith through ball
to coolly slide the ball past ‘keeper Jamie Williams.

Daniel Green nearly
added a second from a long Andy Wylde clearance, with Williams charging out
of his goal, Green’s 35-yard first-time chip was inches away from the angle
of post and bar, but Tonbridge equalised after 23 minutes, Darren Stones
tugging back a Tonbridge forward in the box, Liam Bull beating Hopper from
the spot.

In the first minute of
the second half, Andy Wylde headed a Chris Barnes free-kick narrowly over,
but Tonbridge went ahead after 66 minutes, a shot from Crush was kept out by
a magnificent save by Hopper, only for the referee to rule that Andy Wylde
had fouled an opponent as both players stretched for the loose ball, Jack
Pittaway scoring from the spot.

Epsom fought back to
equalise after 72 minutes, Green flicking on a Barnes corner for Daragh
Corrigan to head against the bar, the ball finding the back of the net via a
defender’s foot, but Tonbridge got the winner after 77 minutes, again an
excellent save by Hopper from Pittaway’s shot, but Wayne Owen was on hand to
slide in the loose ball.

Epsom and Ewell:

Jake Hopper, Darren
Stones, Mark Solomon, Andy Wylde, Neil Gladden, Mark Smith(sub. Daragh
Corrigan 55 mins), Chris Barnes, Russell Coombe, James Daley, Elio Escoffery
(sub. Kiel Ramjohn 73 mins), Daniel Green.

Other sub: Billy Hicks
(not used).

Tonbridge
Angels 3-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
3rd April 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Andy Dunne's youth side
lost tonight away at Tonbridge Angels thanks to a late goal by the home
side.

Epsom & Ewell took
the lead after only 3 minutes through Elio Escoffery but Tonbridge equalised
before half-time.

Tonbridge went ahead mid
way through the second half, Epsom & Ewell equalised a couple of minutes
later through Daragh Corrigan but Tonbridge scored the winner late on to win
the three points and keep up their hopes of winning the title.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-3 Crawley Town

Southern Youth League

Thursday
17th April 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell could
not repeat the good performance that they produced at Crawley last month
going down to three first half goals in a drab encounter where Crawley
defended in numbers and Epsom & Ewell found it hard to get into a goal
scoring position.

Crawley Town took the
lead after 5 minutes when their player got to the ball just ahead of Epsom
keeper Adam Glaied to put the ball into the net from the edge of the
area.

Epsom & Ewell
pressurised to get an equaliser, with Adam Glaied 's goal kick coming the
closest to scoring with around half an hour gone when the Crawley Town keeper
came out to collect only to see the ball take a bounce over him but he was
able to claw the ball away from the goal just in time.

Crawley Town scored the
second after 35 minutes when they broke on a counter-attack, the Epsom
defence failing to clear properly and the ball being fired from 15 yards out
past Adam Glaied into the back of the net.

Crawley added a third on
39 minutes with a simple tap in from a set piece that was not cleared. James
Daley had a shot parried into the side netting by the Crawley keeper just
before half-time.

The second half was
played at a sedate pace with both teams seemingly treating it as an end of
season friendly rather than a competitive match. Both sides had opportunities
in the final 10 minutes to score goals, but all of these opportunities went
high or wide of the goal.

Chessington
& Hook United 1-0 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
23rd April 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The Youth side lost by a
single goal after starting the match slowly at Chessington & Hook United
but dominated the last 20 minutes where a number of opportunities could have
been converted.

Epsom & Ewell
throughout the first half it is fair to say did not have any kind of shape
and they were finding it hard to get out of their own half.

Adam Glaied had a number
of good comfortable saves to make in the first half but Epsom & Ewell
conceded the winning goal five minutes before half-time when a long throw was
flicked on into the path of a Chessington & Hook United player to have a good
shot that was well blocked at point blank range by Adam Glaied, the ball
though had enough momentum to hit the underside of the crossbar and fall for
another Chessington & Hook United to stab it home.

A minute before
half-time the referee awarded a penalty to Epsom & Ewell for a scything
tackle, with the ball already on the penalty spot for 30 seconds the referee
then noticed that his linesman was furiously flagging, after a discussion of
nearly a minute the referee decided to then award a free-kick instead as the
linesman said the foul occurred outside the box.

Credit must be paid to
the Youth side after the half-time team talk as throughout the second half
they built up good passing movements that was lacking in the first half
display and the shape of the team developed. Epsom & Ewell really started
to dominate the final half an hour and a number of shot went either high or
wide of the Chessington & Hook goal.

With five minutes left,
Epsom & Ewell nearly got an equaliser which would have been one of the
most unbelievable own goals when a Chessington & Hook player tried to
pass the ball back to his goal keeper from 25 yards out only to see the ball
take a nasty bounce as he struck the ball that then saw the ball go 20 feet
up in the air and come down with a thud right on top of the cross bar with
the goalkeeper stranded but no Epsom & Ewell player was able to get to
the ball to poke the ball into the empty net.

Adam Glaied completed
his good display on the night with a fine save from a shot that was all the
way going into the top corner of the net.

Merstham
3-6 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Monday
28th April 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Andy Dunne's youth side
won all three points this evening thanks to a 6-3 thrilling win that could
have been a much higher score line if Epsom & Ewell had finished other
missed opportunities.

Epsom & Ewell took
the lead mid way through the first half. Merstham equalised ten minutes later
when a Merstham player got around the back of the Epsom & Ewell defence
to blast a shot past Joe Simons.

Epsom & Ewell
regained the lead within a minute with a tap in and added a third shortly
before half time with a 25 yard effort straight over the head of the Merstham
keeper.

Merstham reduced the
arrears to a single goal within 10 minutes of the start of the second half
with an unmarked header.

On the hour mark Epsom
& Ewell scored the fourth with a tackle won in the box that allowed the
ball to be hit with force into the back of the net.

Epsom & Ewell added
the fifth after 65 minutes with a 45 yard shot that caught the Merstham
keeper off his line and the sixth came on 69 minutes from a free kick that
was deflected off the Merstham wall that looped in over the Merstham keeper.

Merstham scored a
consolation goal a minute later when the ball was kicked straight to a
Merstham player who ran in and side footed the ball past Joe Simons.

Leatherhead
3-0 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
30th April 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The youth team finished
off their season when they went down 3-0 to a much better, stronger youth
side in Leatherhead.

Leatherhead took the
lead on 21 minutes when the ball was slotted into the back of the net after
the ball had rebounded off the post.

Leatherhead extended the
lead on 65 minutes when Epsom & Ewell only half cleared the ball and the
shot from the edge of the area going in off the underside of the bar.

Leatherhead scored the
third on 68 minutes when Epsom & Ewell were caught at the back that
allowed the Leatherhead player to hit a shot from 25 yards into the top of
the net.

Epsom & Ewell had to
cope with 10 men for the final 20 minutes as Andy Dunne had already made two
substitutions for injuries when Andy Wylde had to limp off with a dead leg.

2003/04 Season

Pre-Season Round Up

Friendly

August
2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Tuesday 15th July 2003

Epsom & Ewell Youth
open pre-season with a win against Carshalton Athletic

Epsom & Ewell's
youth team managed by Andy Dunne came away from Carshalton Athletic's
training ground in New Malden with a 4-3 win.

Epsom & Ewell who
played the first half with only 10 men due to players stuck in traffic and
unable to get off work in time for kick-off opened the scoring after just two
minutes when a cross by Elio Escoffery was headed home 6 yards out by Darragh
Corrigan.

Carshalton Athletic
equalised on 13 minutes when a volley from the edge of the area was unable to
be stopped by Dave Copeman.

Carshalton should have
been winning at least 4-1 at half-time but for three brilliant saves by Dave
Copeman from two point blank shots and a close range header that ensured the
score was level at half-time.

With Rob Lovesey
arriving just before the break, Epsom & Ewell were able to start the
second half with 11-men against Carshalton Athletic's squad that seemed to
number nearing 30 players that were continuously being rolled on and off.

Epsom & Ewell gifted
the hosts the lead on 57 minutes when a defensive mix up when trying to clear
a corner saw the ball fly off an Epsom defenders boot and straight into the
bottom corner of the net.

Carshalton stepped up
the gear from the restart and camped in the Epsom & Ewell box for the
next minute forcing a couple of throw-ins and a corner.

Epsom & Ewell scored
against the run of play on 59 minutes when the corner was well held by Epsom
'keeper Dave Copeman and his long goal-kick upfield trying to find Elio
Escoffery was controlled on the edge of his own box by the Carshalton
goalkeeper but his clearance went straight into the path of Daragh Corrigan
who hit the ball straight back over the Carshalton keeper into the far top
corner of the net.

This goal seemed to kick
start the Epsom & Ewell team and with Kyle Ramjohn coming on for Jack
Jones on 67 minutes, suddenly the Epsom & Ewell side became very
confident and a new tactic to get the ball out wide from Dave Copeman's goal
kicks worked straight away on 69 minutes when Elio Escoffery turned his two
markers and sped on to the ball, everybody thought he had lost control of the
ball when he was about to shoot but he was given a second chance as the
Carshalton defender completely missed the ball allowing Elio to volley the
ball straight through the Carshalton keeper's gloves into the far top corner
of the net.

Five minutes later,
Daragh Corrigan nearly got his hat-trick when he raced clear of the
Carshalton defence to try to get on to a Dave Copeman clearance, he was able
to get his head on to the ball but the Carshalton keeper was able to stop the
ball at point blank range.

Carshalton Athletic
equalised on 81 minutes when their striker was able to get in between Darren
Stones and Billy Hicks to slide the ball home under the body of Dave Copeman.
With the game being end to end by this stage, Carshalton Athletic wasted
another couple of opportunities from 6 yards out when it looked more easier
to score, but Epsom & Ewell scored the winner with just over a minute to
go when Dave Copeman's goal kick found Kyle Ramjohn wide on the wing who
successfully passed the ball inside to Elio Escoffery who seeing the
Carshalton keeper slightly off his line he decided to have a shot from 25
yards out that the Carshalton keeper only managed to block with his foot, the
ball flying up into the air straight into the path of unmarked Mark Smith who
powerfully headed the ball home from 10 yards out whilst the Carshalton
defenders stood like statutes watching the ball go into the net.

Leatherhead
0-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
20th August 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

A winning start to their
Southern Youth League programme at Fetcham Grove, Paul Pritchard was in
charge with Andy Dunne on holiday and we took the lead on the verge of
half-time, Charlie Pritchard scoring with a chip from a Jack Jones free-kick.

Elio Escoffery made it
2-0 with a gem of goal five minutes into the second half, taking on several
defenders in the corner of the box and steering the ball over the home
‘keeper, an excellent individual goal.
Leatherhead squandered a good chance, Jake Hopper flipped a header
over and the home side also hit the bar but we nearly added a third in the
closing minutes when Mark Smith battled his way through to create a chance
for John Oppong-Baah, but his shot was blocked.

Team: Jake Hopper, Jack
Jones, Rob Lovesey, Jason Dodd, Rob Thompsett, Daragh Corrigan (Mark Solomon
72 mins), Ryan Butt, Gareth Stevens, Elio Escoffery, Charlie Pritchard (Dean
Tullett 52 mins), John Oppong-Baah.

Leatherhead
0-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
20th August 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Andy Dunne inspired the
youth team to start off their new season in the Southern Youth League with a
win at Leatherhead thanks to goals from Charlie Pritchard and Elio Escoffery
.

Cobham
2-3 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
28th August 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

Two wins out of two, and
top of the table (albeit on alphabetical order), but it was not without a few
scares, we had eased into a two-goal lead, Charlie Pritchard putting us ahead
after 36 minutes from Daragh Corrigan’s free-kick and John Oppong-Baah making
it 2-0 just before the break.

Cobham emerged a
different side for the second half and fought back to equalise with goals
after 52 and 61 minutes, Jake Hopper was forced to push a cross-shot round
the post but we got the winner after 76 minutes, Rob Lovesey heading in a
far-post Gareth Stevens free-kick.

Team: Jake Hopper, Jack
Jones, Rob Lovesey, Mark Smith, Rob Thompsett, Daragh Corrigan, Ryan Butt,
Gareth Stevens, Elio Escoffery (Dean Tullett 88 mins), Charlie Pritchard,
John Oppong-Baah (Daniel Green 62 mins).

Cobham
2-3 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
28th August 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell Youth
team won 3-2 tonight at Cobham to send them back to the top of the table
(albeit on Alphabetical Name Order!).

Charlie Pritchard opened
the scoring on 36 minutes and John Oppong-Baah doubled the lead a minute from
half-time to send Epsom & Ewell in two goals clear.

Cobham hit two fine
goals on 52 and 61 minutes to bring the match all square but Rob Lovesey
scored the winner on 76 minutes to win the match for Epsom & Ewell.

Molesey
1-2 Epsom & Ewell

F.A.Youth Cup First
Qualifying Round

Monday
1st September 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

Back in the F.A. Youth
Cup for the first time since 1993-94, we progressed to the 2nd Qualifying
Round and a trip to Banstead Athletic.

We lost Daragh Corrigan
after just 10 minutes with a pulled hamstring, Dean Tullett substituting and
Charlie Pritchard and Ryan Butt both went close, before an almighty defensive
mix-up was saved by Tullett’s goal-line clearance, but we went ahead after 28
minutes, Pritchard’s through ball picking out Butt who rounded a defender to
score.

A Gareth Stevens
free-kick was headed off the line, Elio Escoffery was just wide with a
first-time effort from a poor Molesey defensive header but Molesey equalised
after 36 minutes, a speculative cross was hooked in, with the help of a
wicked bounce, by Liam O’Leary.

Jake Hopper made a fine
save from a header before we were forced to make another change through
injury, defender Marc Muino limping off to be replaced by Rob Thompsett in
the final minute of the first half.
John Oppong-Baah was inches away with a shot after an impressive turn
on the edge of the box but he made amends two minutes later, collecting
Butt’s through ball, side-stepping a defender and comprehensively beating the
Molesey ‘keeper with a low shot into the corner.

Rob Lovesey was not far
away with a free-kick from 35 yards out, and Oppong-Baah’s speed nearly
brought another goal as he raced away from Tullett’s pass, but he was crudely
obstructed just outside the corner of the box.  Stevens saw his shot pushed over, but it
needed a five save from Hopper to keep us ahead as

Molesey launched one
last attack in stoppage time.  Even
deeper into the ten minutes stoppage time, Stevens had a free-kick
half-cleared but Escoffery’s effort from 25 yards was just wide.

Team: Jake Hopper, Mark
Smith, Jason Dodd, Rob Lovesey, Marc Muino (Rob Thompsett 44 mins), Daragh
Corrigan (Dean Tullett 10 mins), Ryan Butt, Gareth Stevens, Elio Escoffery,
Charlie Pritchard, John Oppong-Baah.
Other subs: Daniel Green, Jack Jones (not used)

Molesey
1-2 Epsom & Ewell

F.A.Youth Cup First
Qualifying Round

Monday
1st September 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The Youth team came away
from Walton Road with a 2-1 victory over their counterparts from Molesey in
the FA Youth Cup 1st Qualifying Round.

The youth team had an
early scare on 5 minutes when Jonathan Bayana held off two Epsom & Ewell
players before sending the goal towards the far corner of the net but Jake
Hopper who has been chosen to represent the Surrey FA pulled off a
magnificent save to push the ball around the post.

Epsom & Ewell's
free-kick on 8 minutes was cleared by Molesey straight to Ryan Butt, his shot
from 30 yards dipped just too late as it went agonisingly went over the bar
with Molesey keeper Matthew Carrod beaten.

Epsom & Ewell had to
change their system on 10 minutes when Darragh Corrigan went for a ball,
overstretched slightly and snapped his hamstring that then forced Andy Dunne
to bring on Dean Tullett.

A dangerous whipped-in
free-kick by Gareth Stevens on 12 minutes found the head of Charlie Pritchard
at the back post but the header went wide of the post.

Epsom & Ewell's
tactic of leaving the front two upfield when Molesey keeper Matthew Carrod
took goal kicks after previous attempts of goal kicks always fell short
worked well on 28 minutes when another poor goal kick landed straight at the
feet of John Oppong-Baah, his pass inside gave space for Ryan Butt to make a
darting 20 yard run to the Molesey area, his first time shot deflected off
the outstretched foot of Nick Whitting sending the ball wide of Matthew
Carrod into the far corner of the net.

Epsom & Ewell could
have easily increased their lead on 30 minutes when a Gareth Stevens
free-kick was headed on by a Molesey defender towards his own goal that then
required the Molesey player on the line having to force the ball over the bar
for a corner.

Epsom & Ewell took
their foot off the gas in the last 15 minutes of the first half which allowed
Molesey back into the match, and an Epsom & Ewell slip in midfield saw a
cross from the left wing on 32 minutes by Molesey find an unmarked Scott Wadge
at the back post but his downwards header bounced well wide of Jake Hopper's
goal.

Molesey equalised on 36
minutes when a volleyed cross found Scott Wadge 12 yards out, his mishit
volley took one horrible bounce that sent the ball into the top left hand
corner of the net out of the reach of Jake Hopper.

More injury misery
occurred for Epsom & Ewell on the stroke of half time when Marc Muino
limped off with what seemed a hamstring strain, his replacement being Rob
Thompsett.

Epsom & Ewell nearly
re-took the lead within 60 seconds of the re-start when an Elio Escoffery run
and shot was scrambled away off the goal line by Molesey after a good save by
Matthew Carrod before Charlie Pritchard and John Oppong-Baah could get to the
loose ball.

Epsom & Ewell did
extend the lead on 54 minutes though when John Oppong-Baah picked up a loose
ball and with a run that allowed him to cut through the Molesey defence like
a knife to butter, he hit a first time shot from 15 yards that went wide of
the Molesey keeper Matthew Carrod but just inside his near post.

Epsom & Ewell tried
to add to their lead knowing that the match would be tense if they did not
get a third to kill the game off, and numerous chances were available but
Molesey defended resolutely at the right moments to stop the ball ending up
in the danger area.

Epsom & Ewell failed
to play the ball easily through the team on 74 minutes which allowed a rare
Molesey attack where they sent a ball over the top to find Jamie Rooney, his
shot from the corner of the Epsom & Ewell area hit the stanchion of the net.

Epsom & Ewell
continued to press for a third but Molesey defending with most people behind
the ball stopped any possible attacks. Epsom & Ewell's hearts were in
their mouths in the first minute of injury time when a sloppy across field
ball saw Molesey intercept and have a good effort at goal but the Epsom &
Ewell defence calmly cleared their lines to break up the Molesey attack.

Epsom & Ewell
thought that they had made the game safe during the 6th minute of injury time
when a nice series of inter-passing movements saw the ball land at Elio
Escoffery's feet, his 15 yard shot seemed to of been excellently saved
one-handed by Matthew Carrod but it seemed as though the ball had gone into
the roof of the net, but in reality the ball had hit the crossbar and rolled
down the netting.

After playing ten
minutes of injury time referee McCormack blew the final whistle to send Epsom
& Ewell through to the next round.

In the FA Youth Cup
Second Qualifying Round that will be played sometime during the week
commencing 15th September, we will face an away tie against either Banstead
Athletic or Sittingbourne who are playing each other at Merland Rise on
Wednesday evening.

Epsom
& Ewell 4-1 East Grinstead Town

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
10th September 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

An emphatic victory
after a sticky start at Merland Rise as the Youth side maintained their 100%
start to the season, we went a goal down after just three minutes, a header
from a goal-kick and Jordan Leatherdale scored with a fierce effort off the
post.

We bounced back
immediately, a through ball from Gareth Stevens found Elio Escoffery quickly
blocked out by four defenders, but we equalised after 16 minutes, the East
Grinstead ‘keeper fluffing his clearance from a back-pass leaving Charlie
Pritchard clear to roll the ball into an empty net.

A Rob Thompsett cross
from Elio Escoffery’s short corner saw Charlie Pritchard head over and Daniel
Green’s low cross picked out Escoffery, but he was foiled by the ‘keeper’s
feet.  We went ahead after 32 minutes,
when a visiting defender headed a free-kick past his own ‘keeper, and we
nearly added another when Pritchard’s through ball picked out John
Oppong-Baah, but the ‘keeper just got a touch to his shot to push round for a
corner.

The third wasn’t long in
coming, after 38 minutes Rob Lovesey headed in a near-post Daniel Green
corner, but East Grinstead nearly pulled a goal back only to be denied by a
fine save from Jake Hopper.

The fourth came five
minutes into the second half, Escoffery spread the ball wide for Rob
Thompsett and his cross was volleyed home by Charlie Pritchard, little of
note in the rest of the game, a good double save from Jake Hopper again
denied East Grinstead, but with our central midfield pairing of Ryan Butt and
Gareth Stevens dominating proceedings, the visitors made little
progress.

Epsom and Ewell:

Jake Hopper, Marc Muino,
Mark Smith, Rob Lovesey, Rob Thompsett (Darren Stones 87 mins), Daniel Green
(Dean Tullett 77 mins), Ryan Butt, Gareth Stevens, Elio Escoffery (Mark
Solomon 71 mins), Charlie Pritchard, John Oppong-Baah.  Other subs: Jack Jones, Ilir Azemi (not
used).

Epsom
& Ewell 4-1 East Grinstead Town

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
10th September 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell youth
continued their fine start to the season by coming from behind to beat East
Grinstead Town 4-1 this evening.

Epsom & Ewell fell
behind to a third minute opener by East Grinstead Town before Charlie
Pritchard levelled for Epsom & Ewell on 15 minutes. Epsom & Ewell
went ahead on 32 minutes thanks to an own goal and Rob Lovesey extended the
lead further on 38 minutes. Charlie Pritchard added the fourth on 50 minutes.

Banstead
Athletic 1-2 Epsom & Ewell

F.A.Youth Cup Second
Qualifying Round

Wednesday
17th September 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

A trip to Burgess Hill
Town in the final qualifying round of the F.A. Youth Cup beckons after we
eventually overcame Banstead Athletic at Merland Rise, once we went in front
the final result was never in much doubt.

We were without the
injured Daragh Corrigan and also missing leading scorer Charlie Pritchard,
who was starting a 21-day ban for a sending-off in Sunday football at the end
of last season, and both Rob Lovesey with a header, and Elio Escoffery with a
shot that a Banstead defender knocked behind for a corner after the ‘keeper
had parried, went close in the early stages.

John Oppong-Baah had a
shot blocked and a glancing header by Ryan Butt from Escoffery’s corner was
just wide before we went ahead a minute before half-time, a deep cross from
just inside the Banstead half by Mark Smith saw the Banstead ‘keeper charging
out of his goal to collect, but he misjudged the flight of the ball, which
bounced over him and into the net.

Jake Hopper blocked a
Max Walter effort before both sides were reduced to 10 men after 63 minutes,
Banstead’s Danny Waterman, who had been sent off the previous week, and who
had been walking a somewhat perilous tightrope for much of the evening,
clattered Oppong-Baah out on the touchline, having already been yellow-carded
he had to go, and Oppong-Baah’s retaliation earned him a straight red.  Ironically our second goal came from the
resultant free-kick which Gareth Stevens flighted towards the far post where
Marc Muino ran the ball in.

Banstead had Dean
Buchanan booked for a challenge on Jake Hopper and Banstead pulled a goal
back deep into stoppage time, although there was still time for us to nearly
regain our two-goal advantage when a pass from Darren Stones picked out Elio
Escoffery, his shot was parried by the ‘keeper and rebounded off a defender
for a corner.

Team:  Jake Hopper, Marc Muino (Jonathan Waro 90
mins), Rob Lovesey, Mark Smith, Rob Thompsett (Mark Solomon 89 mins), Daniel
Green, Ryan Butt, Gareth Stevens, Elio Escoffery, Darren Stones (Robert Lynch
83 mins), John Oppong-Baah.  Other sub:
Jack Jones (not used).

Banstead
Athletic 1-2 Epsom & Ewell

F.A.Youth Cup Second
Qualifying Round

Wednesday
17th September 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
Youth team progressed through to the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Youth
Cup.

Both goalkeepers had to
make saves throughout the first half to keep the scores level, but Epsom
& Ewell took the lead on 44 minutes when Mark Smith launched a ball that
landed in between the Banstead keeper and one of his defenders before the
ball spun over the Banstead keeper and into the roof of the net.

Both teams went down to
ten men on 63 minutes when the Banstead number 7 who had eventually been
shown a yellow card a couple of minutes beforehand when he should have
already been off the field for numerous misdemeanors, kicked out at John
Oppong-Baah who attempted to retaliate.

The referee showed the
Banstead player a second yellow and Oppong-Baah a straight red. From the
free-kick by Gareth Stevens, Marc Muino popped up at the far post to shoot
the ball low past the Banstead keeper.

Banstead did score a
consolation in the sixth minute of injury time when they managed to bundle
the ball past Jake Hopper. Epsom & Ewell in the 3rd Qualifying Round will
be away to Burgess Hill Town.

Epsom
& Ewell 5-3 Chessington & Hook United

Southern Youth League

Wednesay
24th September 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth side eventually overcame Chessington & Hook despite being down to
10 men for nearly 80 minutes of the match.

Epsom & Ewell opened
the scoring on 3 minutes when John Oppong-Baah met a corner at the far post
and the clearance by the Chessington & Hook defenders were deemed to be
too late to stop the whole of the ball crossing the line. John Oppong-Baah was
caught kicking a Chessington & Hook player on 11 minutes by the referee
that saw Oppong-Baah get a straight red.

Chessington & Hook
with the extra man advantage equalised on 23 minutes when the Epsom &
Ewell defence failed to notice the Chessington & Hook player ghosting in
at the back post to meet a cross.

Worse was to come on 33
minutes when a ball across the edge of the area found the Chessington &
Hook player who hit a low shot right into the corner of the net where Jake
Hopper could not reach. Epsom & Ewell equalised on 36 minutes though when
a ball launched from defence found Rob Thompsett who from 25 yards volleyed
the ball into the far top corner of the net.

Daniel Green and Jack
Jones went off at half-time due to injury and they were replaced by Grant
Williams and Marc Muino. Epsom & Ewell re-gained the lead on 58 minutes
when Rob Lovesey and the Chessington & Hook keeper collided when both
going for the ball, Lovesey regaining his feet rolled the ball home from 5
yards out.

Chessington & Hook
equalised again on 67 minutes when a low shot was blocked by Jake Hopper but
the incoming Chessington & Hook player lifted the loose ball over
Hopper's body into the back of the net.

Epsom & Ewell
regained the lead on 69 minutes though when Elio Escoffery was released down
the left wing, shrugging off the last defender he rounded the keeper and
calmly rolled the ball into the back of the net from 15 yards.

Epsom & Ewell scored
a fifth in injury time when Elio Escoffery was again sent away down the left
wing after again shrugging off the last defender he rounded the keeper once
again and from a slightly narrower angle rolled the ball into the back of the
net.

Burgess
Hill 5-0 Epsom & Ewell

F.A.Youth Cup Third
Qualifying Round

Sunday
28th September 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The youth team came away
from Burgess Hill this afternoon on the end of a 5-0 loss to see the hosts
progress to the first round proper, but the young Epsom & Ewell team
played very well against a much older and physical side.

In a very tight first
half, the best efforts for both sides came near half time. John Oppong-Baah
broke the offside trap on 28 minutes to fire a shot in at the Burgess Hill
goal, the ball bouncing off the underside of the cross bar and the goal line
before being cleared.

Burgess Hill Town right
on the stroke of half-time saw a corner headed against the crossbar. Burgess
Hill took the lead on 49 minutes when a cross found the head of a Burgess
Hill player, his header coming off the post straight to another Burgess Hill
player 2 yards out to head the ball into the back of the net.

The goal gave Burgess
Hill some confidence in their play, but Epsom & Ewell continued to dig
deep and Elio Escoffery's effort from a corner was cleared off the line on 70
minutes.

Burgess Hill's Dan White
killed the game off in 4 minutes as he was allowed to turn on the edge of the
box to shoot the ball low past Jake Hopper on 72 minutes, he converted a
penalty to Jake Hopper's left on 74 minutes after Jason Dodd is adjudged to
have clipped a Burgess Hill players' heels and he completed his hat-trick by
arriving at the back post on 76 minutes to tap the cross home past Jake
Hopper.

Insult to injury
occurred on 83 minutes when a powerful 25 yard shot cracked off the underside
of the crossbar, bouncing off the line and Jake Hopper's back to nestle in
the back of the net.

Three
Bridges 3-1 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
1st October 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Three Bridges beat the
Youth side this evening in the top of the table clash of the Southern Youth
league South Division.

Three Bridges went ahead
on 29 minutes when a free-kick skidded off the Three Bridges pitch which saw
the ball squirm away from Jake Hopper in the Epsom & Ewell goal straight
to the incoming Three Bridges player to put the ball in the back of the net.

Epsom & Ewell
equalised on 32 minutes though when a Jason Dodd cross saw the ball spin away
from the Three Bridges defender and into the path of John Oppong-Baah who put
the ball into the back of the net from 15 yards out.

Both sides could have
taken the lead during the early exchanges of the second half but Three
Bridges took the lead on 70 minutes when the wet ball slipped straight
through the gloves of Jake Hopper in the Epsom & Ewell goal.

Three Bridges added the
third on 85 minutes when a free-kick ended up in the top corner of the
net.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-3 Horsham

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
15th October 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Horsham left Merland
Rise with all three points in a match where it was mostly one-way traffic of
Epsom & Ewell attacking the Horsham goal.

Horsham took the lead on
5 minutes when a loose ball was drilled home past Jake Hopper. John
Oppong-Baah fired narrowly wide of the goal twice before Horsham extended
their lead on 20 minutes with their second shot at the Epsom & Ewell goal
when the Horsham player hit a shot just wide of Jake Hopper.

Marc Muino was on the
end of a mishit free-kick on 32 minutes to claw a goal back. Epsom &
Ewell threw everything at the Horsham goal in the second half but thanks to a
header coming off the post, two excellent saves by the Horsham keeper and
three headed clearances off the line, Horsham managed to keep Epsom &
Ewell out.

Horsham scored the third
on 79 minutes when a misplaced pass by Epsom & Ewell allowed the Horsham
attacker to run through and score with only Horsham's third shot of the match
into the top corner of the net.

South
Park 2-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Monday
20th October 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

Epsom recovered from a
poor first-half performance to take a point from Monday’s hard-fought game at
Merstham, the opening 45 minutes had seen little of any note, apart from
South Park’s opening goal after 22 minutes, and two good blocks from ‘keeper
Jake Hopper.

Epsom equalised after 49
minutes, a Gareth Stevens free-kick saw Rob Lovesey and Wesley Cole up with
the ‘keeper, the ball dropping free and Cole was the first to react to slot
home.

Cole again went close
with a shot across the far post, but South Park went back ahead after 69
minutes, but we were back on level terms within a minute, a long ball up to
the edge of the box saw the South Park keeper out to clear, he completely
missed his clearance, leaving Daragh Corrigan free to score.

We finished by far the
stronger, Corrigan and Stevens both had efforts saved.

Epsom and Ewell:  Jake Hopper, Mark Smith, Jonathan Waro (Rob
Thompsett 88 mins), Rob Lovesey, Mark Solomon, Ryan Butt (Paul Deacons 67
mins), Wesley Cole, Gareth Stevens, Marc Muino, Grant Williams, Daragh
Corrigan.

Other sub: Robert Lynch
(not used).

South
Park 2-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Monday
20th October 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth side came away from Merstham with a draw after a slightly below par
performance especially in the first half that saw Epsom & Ewell not
having a shot that the South Park keeper had to save.

South Park took the lead
on 22 minutes when Epsom & Ewell allowed their striker in to have a run
in on goal and shoot past Jake Hopper. Epsom & Ewell equalised on 48
minutes when a free-kick by Gareth Stevens finds the head on Wesley Cole who
heads the ball against the South Park keeper before reacting the fastest to
put the ball into the net from 5 yards out.

South Park re-took the
lead on 69 minutes against the run of play when South Park blocked an Epsom
& Ewell shot in their own half, moving the ball down field a whipped in
cross saw Jake Hopper slow to react off his own line allowing the South Park
player to get his head to the ball in front of Hopper to put the ball into
the net.

From the Epsom &
Ewell kick-off the South Park keeper came to the edge of his own area to
collect the ball only for him to misjudge the ball as he performed an air
save that allowed Daragh Corrigan to knock the ball into the net from 15
yards out.

Horsham
2-0 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Tuesday
28th October 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The Youth team came away
from Horsham losing 2-0 which is very creditable seeing that for the whole of
the match they only played with 10 players.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-2 Three Bridges

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
5th November 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

League leaders Three
Bridges came to Merland Rise with a 100% record, seven wins out of seven, and
looked to be heading for an eighth, but an injury time goal from Elio
Escoffery ensured a point for Epsom.

Frankly it was not one
of Epsom’s better performances, but with the visitors also looking a bit
below par, Epsom took a 13th minute lead, Rob Thompsett crossed from the left to
Daniel Green on the edge of the box, he side-stepped a defender to score with
a well-placed left foot effort into the far corner.

Epsom never really
threatened to take control of the game, despite their lead, and Three Bridges
equalised after 64 minutes, we lost concentration after an injury stoppage,
an Epsom throw went straight to a Three Bridges player whose far post cross
drifted in over Jake Hopper’s head.

The visitors went ahead
five minutes later, but injury time saw us snatch a deserved point, Elio
Escoffery worked his way into the box from the left and squeezed the ball
into the net at the near post.

Epsom and Ewell:

Jake Hopper, Robert
Lynch, Mark Smith, Rob Lovesey, Mark Solomon, Paul Deacons (Ryan Butt 45
mins), Marc Muino (Grant Williams 45 mins), Daniel Green, Gareth Stevens,
Charlie Pritchard, Rob Thompsett (Elio Escoffery 45 mins).

Other sub: Jonathan Waro
(not used).

Epsom
& Ewell 2-2 Three Bridges

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
5th November 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell were
the first team this season to take points off of league leaders Three Bridges
who looked shaky throughout the match thanks to an injury time goal by Elio
Escoffery.

Epsom & Ewell took
the lead on 12 minutes when Rob Thompsett sent over a cross that found Daniel
Green, after controlling the ball Green hit the ball into the corner of the
net.

Three Bridges equalised
on 64 minutes with a chip over Jake Hopper from a throw-in, and they took the
lead five minutes later when the centre forward got to the ball before Jake
Hopper to turn the ball into the net.

Three Bridges time
wasting tactics throughout the second half backfired on them as the referee
added on 7 minutes of injury time, and Epsom & Ewell took full advantage
in the fourth minute of injury time when Elio Escoffery held off three Three
Bridges defenders to shoot past the Three Bridges keeper, although another
defender was on the line he could not prevent the ball from going into the
back of the net.

Epsom
& Ewell 3-2 South Park

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
19th November 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

3-0 ahead after 52
minutes and cruising, and that was probably the problem. We had dominated
most of the early stages of Wednesday’s game, but allowed South Park to get
back into the game.

With the luxury of
virtually a full-strength side, we took the lead after 25 minutes, a corner
from Daragh Corrigan on the left was headed back in by Rob Lovesey for
Charlie Pritchard to bundle home at the far post.

The second goal after 35
minutes was something special, a ball up from Corrigan to Elio Escoffery saw
him flick the ball over one defender, trick his way past a second and score
with a left-foot shot into the bottom corner.

Jake Hopper made a good
save from McElligott, after 44 minutes of virtual spectating and we went 3-0
ahead after 52 minutes, Marc Muino worked his way along the bye-line and
pulled the ball back for Charlie Pritchard to add his second.

We nearly added a fourth
in the next minute, a corner was half-cleared which Daragh Corrigan crossed
back in and from an acute angle, Escoffery saw his shot punched out by the
South Park ‘keeper.

South Park pulled a goal
back after 54 minutes and another after 62 minutes, and although we weren’t
exactly hanging on, there were some uncomfortable moments to negotiate before
the final whistle.

Team:

Jake Hopper, Marc Muino,
Mark Solomon, Paul Deacons (Mark Smith 56 mins), Rob Lovesey, Daniel Green,
Ryan Butt (Rob Thompsett 75 mins), Gareth Stevens, Daragh Corrigan (Grant
Williams 85 mins), Charlie Pritchard, Elio Escoffery.

Epsom
& Ewell 3-2 South Park

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
19th November 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth team were back to more or less full strength this evening as they South
Park 3-2 at Merland Rise.

A pulsating Epsom &
Ewell performance in the first half left the South Park team fail to get
going. Epsom & Ewell saw a number of opportunities before they did take
the lead on 25 minutes when a Daragh Corrigan corner found the head of Rob
Lovesey at the far post who manages to head the ball back across the goal for
an unmarked Charlie Pritchard to head in.

Epsom & Ewell
extended the lead on 35 minutes with a solo goal of sheer class by Elio
Escoffery. South Park threw the ball back to the Epsom & Ewell defence
after Epsom had kicked the ball out for an injury, a long ball upfield saw
Elio Escoffery collect the ball with his first touch, then flick the ball
over another South Park defender like Gazza at Euro '96 with his next touch
before cutting in and firing the ball into the far corner of the net past the
advancing South Park keeper.

Epsom & Ewell added
the third on 50 minutes when Marc Muino twisted and turned his way through
the South Park box before cutting the ball back for Charlie Pritchard to
divert the ball into the back of the net past through the legs of two South
Park defenders on the goal line.

South Park reduced the
arrears on 54 minutes with a 20 yard shot into the bottom corner of the net
past Jake Hopper that zipped off the slippery surface, and they reduced the
arrears even further on 65 minutes when Epsom & Ewell fell asleep at the
back to allow the South Park defender to have a 15 yard shot across Jake
Hopper into the far corner of the net to set up a tense finish with the fog
starting to roll in.

Charlie Pritchard and
Elio Escoffery both had chances against the South Park keeper to add to the
score line in the closing stages.

Epsom
& Ewell 4-4 Horley Town

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
10th December 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

A late recovery saw the
Youth side force a point from an entertaining game, we had taken the lead
after 7 minutes when Daniel Green headed in a Grant Williams cross, only for
Honey to equalise after 17 minutes.

The visitors looked a
far better side than their lowly league position suggested, Elio Escoffery
had a shot deflected for a corner before he departed with a hamstring pull,
Rob Thompsett substituting, Marc Muino had a shot cleared off the line before
Horley took the lead right on the break with a rather speculative effort from
the corner of the box which dipped in over Jake Hopper’s head.

We equalised right from
the restart, Marc Muino sending Charlie Pritchard clear to lift the ball over
the Horley ‘keeper and the early stages of the second half saw Muino just
wide and Pritchard had a shot pushed round by the ‘keeper before Horley broke
away to take the lead after 58 minutes.

An identical break saw
Horley go 4-2 ahead after 75 minutes, before Charlie Pritchard pulled a goal
back after 82 minutes, and with a minute remaining Pritchard clinched his
hat-trick with a header from a Grant Williams corner.

Stoppage time saw us
pressing for a winner, the Horley ‘keeper pulled off a fine save from a
Gareth Stevens free-kick and from a Stevens corner, Pritchard saw his effort
cleared off the line.

Epsom and Ewell:  Jake Hopper, Marc Muino, Mark Solomon
(Wesley Cole 65 mins),
Mark Smith, Jason Dodd, Daragh Corrigan (Rob Lovesey 47 mins), Daniel Green,
Gareth Stevens, Grant Williams, Charlie Pritchard, Elio Escoffery (Rob
Thompsett 22 mins).

Epsom
& Ewell 4-4 Horley Town

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
10th December 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth team contested a thrilling game consisting of 8 goals but there could
have been plenty more goals.

Epsom & Ewell opened
the scoring on 6 minutes when the ball is crossed into the middle of the
Horley Town box where Daniel Green powerfully heads the ball home.

Horley Town equalised on
16 minutes when they blocked Epsom & Ewell in their own area, the ball
eventually being put wide of a fully stretched Jake Hopper into the corner of
the net.

In first half injury
time a Horley Town player looking up noticed Jake Hopper slightly off his
line and chipped the ball over Hopper's head but just under the crossbar from
20 yards out.

Horley only had the lead
for less than 30 seconds when Epsom & Ewell from the re-start saw Daniel
Green pick out Charlie Pritchard on the run and he managed to chip the ball
over the Horley keeper from 25 yards.

Epsom & Ewell had
three excellent chances at the start of the second half but on every occasion
the ball went inches the wrong side of the post. Horley re-took the lead on
58 minutes when an Epsom & Ewell corner was pumped up field finding the
only Horley player with pace, managing to get the right side of Jason Dodd he
manages to hit a fierce shot towards goal, although Jake Hopper gets a hand
to the ball the ball still has enough to run across the line.

Deja vu occurred on 75
minutes when a promising Epsom & Ewell attack sees a Horley defender get
his foot to the ball smashing up field to the pacey forward who chips the
ball over Jake Hopper who had come out to narrow the angle.

From an Epsom &
Ewell throw-in on 82 minutes, the ball bounces up on to the chest of Charlie
Pritchard with little room to manoeuvre he manages to turn his defender and
rifle a shot into the back of the net from 10 yards out on an acute angle
somehow past the Horley keeper.

Charlie Pritchard's
hat-trick to equalise for Epsom & Ewell occured from a corner on 88
minutes that found the head of Pritchard unmarked in the middle of the 6 yard
box.

Epsom & Ewell then
started believing in themselves and went looking for a winner and nearly did
during the first minute of injury time when Pritchard was fouled on the edge
of the Horley area, the free-kick by Mark Solomon being pushed on the crossbar
by the Horley keeper and the ball cleared upfield.

Epsom & Ewell with
virtually the last kick of the match were denied the win when another Epsom
& Ewell corner was flying around in the box, Charlie Pritchard's clean
shot was cleared by Horley when the whole ball had gone over the line but the
referee did not award the goal due to his view was blocked by the number of
players despite practically the whole of the Epsom & Ewell team
surrounding the ref.

Epsom
& Ewell 3-4 Crawley Town

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
17th December 2003

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell youth
team gave a battling display against their Sussex counterparts who beat
Bristol Rovers in the FA Youth Cup last month before losing to Arsenal 9-0 in
the next round which was their last game before they came to Merland Rise,
and then add into the equation that six of the Epsom & Ewell starting
line up played a full 90 minutes for their school teams less than 5 hours
before kick-off.

Crawley Town took the
lead after 75 seconds when a powerful Crawley Town free-kick saw Jake Hopper
block the shot but the ball fell kindly for the Crawley Town player 5 yards
out to put the ball into the roof of the net. Epsom & Ewell equalised on
12 minutes when a Gareth Stevens free-kick finds the head of the unmarked Rob
Lovesey, the header evading the Crawley keeper.

Crawley re-took the lead
on 18 minutes when a 20 yard shot from the corner of the Epsom & Ewell
box, was saved by Jake Hopper down to his left but the ball spun into the
path of the oncoming Crawley player who manages to shoot the ball low past
Hopper who was trying to retrieve the loose ball.

Epsom & Ewell
equalised on 20 minutes when Rob Thompsett pumped the ball forward, with
Crawley defenders leaving the ball for their keeper, Charlie Pritchard ran on
in hope and managed to get to the ball first and lobbed the ball over the
Crawley keeper into the back of the net.

Crawley could have been
leading at half-time when Epsom & Ewell left a Crawley player on 44
minutes trying to run through them enough time to hit a 25 yard shot that
swerved away from Jake Hopper, the ball though rattled off the crossbar.

Epsom & Ewell were
forced to replace Gareth Stevens with Jonathan Waro due to an injury, and
Crawley re-took the lead a minute later when the Crawley right back played
both of the front players in, the Crawley centre-forward managing to hit his
shot low under Jake Hopper's body as he tried to make the save down to his
right.

Epsom & Ewell were
nearly given another equaliser when the ball was passed back to the Crawley
keeper, whilst he was looking for options, Charlie Pritchard managed to steal
the ball but his shot from 10 yards on an acute angle hit the side netting.

Jake Hopper came to
collect the ball on 70 minutes but the ball took a horrible bounce that saw
the ball go over Hopper's head, he managed it seemed to get both hands around
the ball before he collided with a Crawley player that saw the ball come
loose and the Crawley player tap the ball into the net and start a goal
celebration.

After a minute of
conversation between the referee and his assistant the goal was ruled out.
Due to fatigue and a slight knock, Wesley Cole was replaced by Paul Deacons
on 77 minutes and Crawley Town were awarded a penalty two minutes later for
an infringement that the Assistant referee saw, the penalty was hit straight
down the middle of the goal.

Charlie Pritchard had to
sit the final four minutes of normal time out when he limped off with a leg
injury that reduced Epsom & Ewell to 10 men. Epsom & Ewell were
awarded a penalty a minute into injury time when Daniel Green had both legs
taken inside the penalty area, although the referee missed the incident, the
assistant flagged for the infringement.

With Charlie Pritchard
off the pitch, Daniel Green got up and slotted the penalty tight into the
bottom right corner of the net. Epsom & Ewell did have one final effort
in injury time from a dangerous corner that the Crawley keeper had to punch
away from more or less underneath his own crossbar.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-1 Cobham

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
7th January 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

The Youth team’s last
outing was on 7th January when they drew 1-1 at home to Cobham, Daniel
Green gave us the lead after just 4 minutes, both Rob Lovesey and Charlie
Pritchard went close before Cobham equalised just before half-time with a
speculative cross which sailed in at the far post.

Cobham nearly went ahead
but Knight side-footed a cross over a gaping net, and we were thwarted in the
latter stages by some inspired saves by the Cobham ‘keeper, who twice saved
from Daniel Green in one-on-one situations.

Team: Jake Hopper, Marc
Muino, Rob Lovesey, Mark Solomon, Rob Thompsett (Mark Smith 45 mins), Grant
Williams (Jonathan Waro 65 mins), Rob Lynch, Daniel Green, Wesley Cole,
Charlie Pritchard, Gareth Stevens.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-1 Cobham

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
7th January 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth team returned after their three week Christmas break looking for a win,
but ended up frustrated with a draw at home to Cobham. Epsom & Ewell
started promisingly and took a deserved 3rd minute lead when Cobham
attempting to clear the ball out of their area from an Epsom & Ewell
cross but the ball was played straight to Daniel Green who drilled the ball
home from 10 yards out.

Charlie Pritchard, Grant
Williams, Gareth Stevens all managed to hit the post with shots, and a Daniel
Green header shaved the crossbar as the half went on. Cobham came back into
the match on 43 minutes when an attempted cross 35 yards from goal looking for
a bunch of Cobham players on the edge of the Epsom & Ewell area got
caught up in the crosswind that was swirling, with the ball sailing over Jake
Hopper into the far corner of the net.

Both sides had chances
to win the match in the second half - Cobham on the hour mark saw their
player go around Jake Hopper but hit the ball over the empty goal from 15
yards out. Daniel Green was sent clear twice in the final 25 minutes but both
times the Cobham keeper managed to block Green's shots - the second save
appeared to injure the young keepers' hand which required treatment.

East
Grinstead Town 4-3 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
21st January 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

It all started so well,
leading 2-0 after 21 minutes, we were made to pay for some sloppy defending
on a heavily sanded energy-sapping pitch, in a game that was spoilt by some
pretty indifferent refereeing.

The EGT keeper had
already saved a Wesley Cole effort by the post before we took the lead after
11 minutes, Mark Solomon turning onto a Charlie Pritchard cross and hooking
in a well-struck half-volley.

Daniel Green headed down
a Gareth Stevens free-kick for Charlie Pritchard to tuck home his 11th goal of the
season at the far-post after 21 minutes, EGT pulled a goal back two minutes
later and equalised after 31 minutes, a scuffed free-kick was not cleared and
the ball was poked in from close range.

Daniel Green was just
wide with a free-kick only for EGT to take the lead four minutes into the
second half with a header from a free-kick, and we had a let-off when a
‘penalty-indicating’ linesmen was, quite rightly, over-ruled by the referee
but the game rapidly deteriorated from this stage, Wesley Cole and Rob
Lovesey had already been booked, but we equalised after 61 minutes when Rob
Lovesey headed in a Grant Williams corner.

Gareth Stevens went
close with a left-foot effort, Daniel Green also went into the book for an
innocuous midfield challenge, but we lost it a minute from time, a poor
corner on the left saw EGT break quickly and Jake Hopper was beaten by a shot
from just inside the box.  Daragh
Corrigan nearly grabbed a late equaliser, but was just wide, and he picked up
a late booking for dissent as decisions became increasingly bizarre.

Team: Jake Hopper, Rob
Lynch, Rob Lovesey, Mark Smith, Jonathan Waro (John Oppong-Baah 57 mins),
Mark Solomon, Wesley Cole (Ryan Butt 51 mins), Daniel Green, Gareth Stevens,
Charlie Pritchard, Grant Williams (Daragh Corrigan 74 mins).

East
Grinstead Town 4-3 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
21st January 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The youth team came back
from East Grinstead Town without any points from mid-sussex after conceding a
very late goal.

Epsom & Ewell took
the lead on 11 minutes when Mark Solomon turned home a Charlie Pritchard
cross. The lead was extended on 21 minutes when Charlie Pritchard at the far
post knocked home a knock down by Daniel Green from Gareth Stevens free-kick.

East Grinstead then
scored two quick goals in the space of five minutes to bring the scores
level. The second half started with East Grinstead taking the lead for the
first time when a free-kick was headed home on the near post.

Rob Lovesey brought the
scores back level on 61 minutes when he managed to head home a Grant Williams
corner. With barely less than 30 seconds left of normal time, Epsom &
Ewell had a corner that did not get over the man on the front post, the ball
being played straight up to the East Grinstead strikers on the break who
managed to score past Jake Hopper

Epsom
& Ewell 2-3 Horsham YMCA

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
4th February 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

A disappointing final
result after pulling back a two-goal deficit at Merland Rise. A somewhat
reshuffled side with several players having played in a Glyn School game
earlier in the day and we went behind after just 3 minutes.

Daragh Corrigan went
close with a header from Rob Thompsett's cross before YMCA went further
ahead, taking advantage of a somewhat fortuitous rebound in the box.  John Oppong-Baah pulled a goal back after
35 minutes after a free-kick had hit a YMCA defender and Charlie Pritchard
went close just before the break.

In our best spell of the
game Oppong-Baah got his second of the game with an overhead kick to equalise
after 57 minutes and we nearly went ahead when Daniel Green headed down Rob
Lovesey's free-kick but Pritchard's effort was just wide.  Jake Hopper made a fine save to keep it
level but was beaten after 76 minutes, a free-kick had been blocked but a
second kick was awarded for handball, the kick appearing to go through a gap
in the defensive wall.

Team: Jake Hopper, Rob
Lynch, Jonathan Waro (Scott Fitzgerald 45 mins), Paul Deacons (Mark Solomon
73 mins), Rob Thompsett (Rob Lovesey 45 mins), Ryan Butt, Daniel Green, Grant
Williams, Charlie Pritchard, John Oppong-Baah.  Other subs: Gareth Stevens, Mark Smith (not
used).

Epsom
& Ewell 2-3 Horsham YMCA

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
4th February 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

A disappointing final
result after pulling back a two-goal deficit at
Merland Rise.

A somewhat reshuffled
side with several players having played in a Glyn
School game earlier in the day and we went behind after just 3 minutes.
Daragh Corrigan went close with a header from Rob Thompsett's cross before
YMCA went further ahead, taking advantage of a somewhat fortuitous rebound in the box.

John Oppong-Baah pulled
a goal back after 35 minutes after a free-kick had
hit a YMCA defender and Charlie Pritchard went close just before the break.
In our best spell of the game John Oppong-Baah got his second of the game
with an overhead kick to equalise after 57 minutes and we nearly went ahead
when Daniel Green headed down Rob Lovesey's free-kick but Charlie Pritchard's effort was just wide.

Jake Hopper made a fine
save to keep it level but was beaten after 76
minutes, a free-kick had been blocked but a second kick was awarded for handball, the kick appearing to go through a gap in the
defensive wall.

Horsham
YMCA 3-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
25th February 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

Despite dominating most
of the second half, we were only able to pull back one goal at Gorings Mead
against the division leaders, the game finishing with the same result as at
Merland Rise three weeks ago.

YMCA had a couple of
early chances, Brabon’s shot reared up off the goalmouth nearly catching Jake
Hopper by surprise, but our ‘keeper was quickly off his line to block
St.John’s chip.

We took the lead after 7
minutes, a ball into the box from Gareth Stevens found John Oppong-Baah with
time to score with a fierce left-foot shot from a narrow angle at the far
post.

Gareth Stevens, Rob
Lovesey and John Oppong-Baah all had shots blocked and Charlie Pritchard
headed a Rob Thompsett cross wide, Daragh Corrigan headed a Mark Solomon
cross over before YMCA equalised after 34 minutes, a ball across the box was
not cleared leaving the chance for Brabon.

We nearly went back in
front when Rob Lovesey’s 30-yard free-kick bounced off the top of the
crossbar but after Gareth Stevens had limped off with a dead leg, Billy Innes
coming on for his debut, YMCA dominated the latter stages of the half and
scored twice, 39 minutes and Brabon’s run through the centre was never really
challenged and he gave Hopper no chance and right on the break, Adam
O’Carroll crossed from the left for Tim Martin to score with a looping
header.

Jonathan Waro came on
for Billy Georgiou, also making his debut, at half-time, and an excellent
ball from Daragh Corrigan picked out Charlie Pritchard, but he was blocked by
a defender after being forced out wide.

A good build-up on the
left between John Oppong-Baah, Rob Thompsett and Mark Solomon saw the latter
cross for Charlie Pritchard, but his header was off-target, and from another
Solomon ball in from the left, some excellent control from Daniel Green saw him
create a good opening, but his shot was wide.

We pulled a goal back
after 71 minutes, Rob Thompsett crossed from the left for John Oppong-Baah to
stoop low and guide his header into the bottom corner.

We just weren’t able to
force an equaliser, leaving us a bit stretched at the back, Jake Hopper did
well to block out Martin, and to push away a tricky effort from Simpson,
YMCA’s only real chances of the half.

Epsom and Ewell:

Jake Hopper, Rob Lynch,
Rob Lovesey, Mark Solomon, Gareth Stevens(sub.Billy Innes 35 mins), Daniel
Green, Daragh Corrigan, Charlie Pritchard, Rob Thompsett, Billy
Georgiou(sub.Jonathan Waro 45 mins), John Oppong-Baah.

Horsham
YMCA 3-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
25th February 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth team lost against league leaders Horsham YMCA at Gorings Mead, but they
rued the number of missed chances.

Epsom & Ewell opened
the scoring on 6 minutes when John Oppong Baah latched on to a Gareth Stevens
ball into the Horsham YMCA box to lift the ball over the home keeper.

Epsom & Ewell should
have been at least four up by the half hour mark but the Horsham YMCA keeper
blocked one shot by Oppong Baah and two by Charlie Pritchard all from one on
one situations.

Horsham YMCA equalised
on 34 minutes when a corner saw Epsom & Ewell not marking a spare man on
the edge of the box, the clearing header falling straight for the Horsham
YMCA to hit a diagonal shot into the far corner of the net over Jake Hopper.

Epsom & Ewell were
awarded a free-kick from the re-start, Rob Lovesey's 35 yard free-kick
beating the Horsham YMCA off his line but the ball smashed into the bar and
out for a goal kick.

Epsom & Ewell were
caught asleep for the final 10 minutes of the half, a Horsham YMCA midfielder
collecting a Jake Hopper goal kick was allowed to run 25 yards unchallenged
before swerving a 20 yard shot past Jake Hopper.

Horsham YMCA added a
third on the stroke of half time, a deep cross seeing three Epsom & Ewell
defenders surrounding the only Horsham YMCA striker in the box, only for the
home striker to get his head to the ball to divert it home past Jake Hopper.

Epsom & Ewell could
have got a goal back on 60 minutes when Charlie Pritchard was set clear with
another run at goal, his shot though being blocked by the Horsham YMCA
keepers feet.

A barn-storming finish
to the match was set up on 70 minutes when a Rob Thompsett cross into the
Horsham YMCA box finds John Oppong-Baah able to get enough power on his
header to send the ball past the home keeper. Horsham YMCA tried to get at
Epsom & Ewell for a fourth but the visitors were defending well by
ensuring the offside trap worked on countless occasions, Epsom & Ewell
went looking for an equaliser but they could not get the vital ball into the
danger area. Both sides had penalty appeals rejected in the final few minutes
of the half.

Chessington
& Hook United 1-1 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
3rd March 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell came
away from Chalky Lane with a point that should have been three.

Epsom & Ewell opened
the scoring on 14 minutes when a Charlie Pritchard cross finds Daniel Green
at the back post to turn the ball high into the net.

Epsom & Ewell were
on the end of a refereeing howler on 18 minutes, Mark Solomon sent a ball
down the right wing allowing John Oppong-Baah to go chasing only for a
Chessington & Hook United player who was off the pitch waiting to come
back on to run on to the pitch without the referee's permission to smash the
ball straight up to the Chessington & Hook forward to roll the ball into
the back of the net - the referee allowed the goal to stand.

The Chessington &
Hook United keeper was fortunate to be shown a yellow card rather than a red
when preventing a goal scoring opportunity when pole-axing John Oppong-Baah
as he collected a through pass on the edge of the Chessington & Hook area
- the resulting Daragh Corrigan free-kick seeing the keeper pull off an
outstanding save.

Charlie Pritchard with a
shot that drifted wide of the post had an early opportunity in the second
half totally dominated by Epsom & Ewell that saw Chessington & Hook
under the cosh.

John Oppong-Baah was
sent away on 68 minutes in the clear his shot from 15 yards sees the
Chessington & Hook United keeper get a hand to the ball before the ball
bounced off the far post and straight to a Chessington & Hook United
player to clear.

Seven minutes later,
Oppong-Baah is sent clear again, this time his shot from roughly the same
place comes thudding off the other post.

Epsom
& Ewell 3-1 Leatherhead

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
14th April 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

In their first game
since 3rd
March, the Youth side came from behind to beat Leatherhead at Merland Rise,
the first half had seen Leatherhead hit the bar and Charlie Pritchard go
close with a chip that was just wide.

Leatherhead took the
lead after 59 minutes from the penalty spot but we were back on level terms
within three minutes, John Oppong-Baah was fouled in the box, Daniel Green
equalising from the spot.

Gareth Stevens put us
ahead after 67 minutes with a low free-kick and John Oppong-Baah missed a
great chance to increase our lead, doing all the hard work by rounding a
defender and the ‘keeper, but rolled the ball wide of the far post, but he
made amends with a excellent goal in the closing minute driving home from the
corner of the box.

Epsom & Ewell:  Jake Hopper, Daragh Corrigan, Rob Lovesey,
Gareth Stevens, Mark Solomon, Grant Williams (Rob Thompsett 45 mins), Ryan
Butt (Wesley Cole 81 mins), Daniel Green, Elio Escoffery (Mark Smith 45
mins), Charlie Pritchard, John Oppong-Baah.

Epsom
& Ewell 3-1 Leatherhead

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
14th April 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

With the first team's
victory at Fetcham Grove last month still fresh in Epsom & Ewell
supporters memories, the youth team were up against the tanners youth team at
Merland Rise.

Epsom & Ewell could
have taken the lead within a minute of the start when an Epsom & Ewell
counter-attack sees John Oppong-Baah cross the ball, Daragh Corrigan is
unable to get a shot in but Charlie Pritchard is able to slide the ball past
Leatherhead keeper Tim Brewster from 10 yards out but the ball unfortunately
bounces off the post.

Leatherhead created a
chance out of nothing when a Rob Lovesey clearance finds Jahmahl King 25
yards out, his volley seemed to be going well over until the ball suddenly
dips enough to thud off the top of Jake Hopper's crossbar.

With the match
continuing into the second half with a goal less draw looking inevitable, it
took a penalty award by referee Peter Tutt on 60 minutes to bring the game to
life when Gareth Stevens was penalised for bringing down Leatherhead's
Charnpaul Flora, Leatherhead's Matt Bennett stepped up to put the ball into
the bottom left corner to give Leatherhead the lead.

The lead would only last
for 100 seconds when from the kick-off, a ball down the middle by Daniel
Green sees John Oppong-Baah seem to be clear of Matt Bennett, the Leatherhead
player managing to get a hand on to Oppong-Baah's shoulder inside the
Leatherhead box with the Epsom & Ewell striker going down and the referee
awarding a penalty on the signal given to him by the linesman. Daniel Green
stepping up to put the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the
net.

Epsom & Ewell took
the lead on 67 minutes when Ryan Butt was fouled just outside the box and a
free-kick was awarded which was taken by Gareth Stevens which went straight
through the wall, the ball taking a nasty bounce 2 yards in front of Tanners
keeper Tim Brewster's dive that saw Brewster only able to palm the ball into
the roof of his own net.

Seeing the Tanners
rattled, Epsom & Ewell went looking to add to the tally and John
Oppong-Baah who made his first team debut on Easter Monday in the derby
against Banstead was given the perfect opportunity to add number three on 70
minutes when he was sent clear and managed to stay on side, rounding the
tanners keeper Tim Brewster it seemed he only had to walk the ball home but
he tried to pass the ball into the net from 5 yards out only for the Merland
Rise pitch to act as a 12th man for Leatherhead as he lost his footing in a
divot as he struck the ball with the ball squirming past the far post and out
for a goal kick by inches.

Daragh Corrigan down the
right wing on 75 minutes laid the ball off into Charlie Pritchard getting in
behind the Leatherhead defence, his chip aimed at the far top corner of the
net from the corner of the penalty area missing the woodwork by no more than
a foot.

Charlie Pritchard was
fed the ball on 80 minutes from Daniel Green, his turn and first time shot
again aimed at the same top corner sees the ball fly five feet wide of the
far post with Leatherhead keeper Tim Brewster stranded.

Leatherhead had an
opportunity on 86 minutes to nip in for an equaliser when Mark Solomon's
attempted clearance header saw the ball going into the middle of the box but
Jake Hopper was off his line to collect the loose ball.

Epsom & Ewell youth
ensured the league double over Leatherhead following their 2-0 success back
in August at Fetcham Grove with a spectacular goal from nowhere which must go
down as a serious front runner for youth team goal of the season by John Oppong-Baah
in the third minute of injury time.

Oppong-Baah had been
penned back into the left hand corner of the field by Joe Bullen less than 5
yards away from the corner flag and 2 yards away from the touchline, the
Epsom & Ewell striker somehow managed to turn the tanners defender and
curl the ball straight over Leatherhead keeper Tim Brewster into the far top
corner from the narrowest of angles.

There was still time for
Epsom & Ewell to have a penalty appeal turned down in the eighth minute
of injury time when a Gareth Stevens free-kick was handled by James Eyres
inside the Leatherhead area but the referee decided to wave away the loud
appeal by the Epsom & Ewell team.

Crawley
Town 3-1 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Tuesday
27th April 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

At Broadfield Stadium,
we went a goal down after 11 minutes, when Mark Dixon headed in a cross and
we went further behind four minutes from the break, Josh Lyons heading in a
cross.

Jake Hopper did well to
back-pedal and push a 25-yard lob from Badrum over the bar and we pulled a
goal back on the hour when Mark Solomon crossed from the left for Rob Lynch
to squeeze the ball in at the near post.

John Oppong-Baah went
close to an equaliser and Crawley missed a penalty that hit the bar, but the
taker was penalised when he latched onto the rebound, and John Oppong-Baah
had a shot blocked and from the rebound an effort from Rob Lynch hit the
angle of post and bar and was cleared.

Crawley added a
controversial third in the closing minutes, and with our final game at Horley
Town looking increasingly unlikely to take place because of the restrictions
on their floodlights (only one midweek evening per week), we have rejected
the proposed 6.30 kick-off.

Last youth team
appearances for Rob Lovesey, Gareth Stevens, Mark Smith, Daragh Corrigan and
Daniel Green, we hope to see them playing Suburban League football next
season, the remainder of the squad are all available next season.

Epsom & Ewell:  Jake Hopper, Mark Smith, Rob Lovesey,
Gareth Stevens, Mark Solomon, Daragh Corrigan, Daniel Green, Ryan Butt,
Charlie Pritchard (Billy Innes 64 mins), John Oppong-Baah, Rob Thompsett (Rob
Lynch 45 mins).

Other subs: Billy
Georgiou, Jonathan Waro (not used).

Crawley
Town 3-1 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Tuesday
27th April 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell youth
came away from Crawley's Broadfield Stadium on the end of a 3-1 reverse, when
a draw would have been the correct result.

Epsom & Ewell had
the better of the early exchanges but it was Crawley who took the lead after
10 minutes with their first attack when a free-kick was launched to the back
post for the Crawley player coming around the back to head the ball into the
back of the net.

John Oppong-Baah managed
to get away free of the offside trap on 12 minutes, but the Crawley defence
managed to catch up with him enough to prevent a powerful enough shot on
target, Oppong-Baah managing to drag the ball wide of the post.

Crawley extended the
lead on 40 minutes, a short throw-in is whipped into the far post again for
the Crawley player to head the ball into the net from 12 yards out past Jake
Hopper. John Oppong-Baah once again broke the offside trap on the stroke of
half allowing him to sprint away from the Crawley defence but the Crawley
keeper Mark Fox came out to narrow the angle but Oppong-Baah was still able
to hit a shot the thudded back into play off the near post, but the referee
blew for half-time before any more action could occur.

Epsom & Ewell
brought on Rob Lynch at half-time for Rob Thompsett. Epsom & Ewell from
the start of the second half were outpassing their hosts, and drew a goal
back on 59 minutes when Charlie Pritchard playing his second game within 24
hours after his heroics the previous night produced an overlap for Peter
Solomon to collect the ball before squaring it into Rob Lynch to divert the
ball into the back of the net from 10 yards out.

John Oppong-Baah
produced a magical run after receiving a ball from Daragh Corrigan on 67
minutes that saw him dance around three players in the Crawley box before
hitting a shot that flashed inches over the crossbar on a narrow angle.

With quarter an hour of
the match left, Epsom & Ewell's Rob Lovesey made a tackle on Crawley's
George Smith that saw both players tangled up, Smith then seeming to put his
fist into the face of Lovesey whilst both were still on the floor that then
saw a 20 man brawl erupt with both sets of management and a number of stadium
stewards having to pull both sets of players apart - Lovesey and Smith the
only ones to be shown yellow cards when a few could have easily seen red.

Crawley looped a ball
over the Epsom & Ewell defence on 84 minutes that sees Jake Hopper have
to come out to block any shot but appear to clip the Crawley player who goes
down in a heap - after nearly 7 minutes of time with the Crawley player
appearing to be suffering from cramp rather than a leg injury from the
challenge and with the match now in injury time, Crawley eventually get
around to taking the penalty which crashes off the underside of the crossbar
with the follow-up by the penalty area going towards the goal the referee
blows his whistle before the ball could enter the goal as the penalty taker
had touched the ball twice.

Epsom & Ewell had a
golden opportunity to level the scores in the fourth minute of injury time
when a lofted ball sees John Oppong-Baah able to get a touch on to the ball
to try to divert it into the corner of the net but the ball coming off the
knees of Mark Fox, Rob Lynch with back to goal spinning on the spot on the
edge of the area volleyed the ball aimed at the top corner and it would have
gone in if the defender was not on the line making a last ditch header.

The corner was knocked
straight down into the Epsom & Ewell area where the Crawley player
manages to take the Epsom & Ewell right back out allowing him to have a
clear view of the far corner to pass the ball into the net from the edge of
the area with Epsom & Ewell appealing for the foul - most of the Epsom
& Ewell team surrounding the assistant referee for allowing the goal
which saw the referee having trouble regaining control.

2004/05 Season

Pre-Season Round Up

Friendly

August
2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Thursday 29th July 2004

Epsom & Ewell's
youth team lost at Horsham in their first pre-season friendly 4-1 this
evening.

With a number of players
unavailable due to holiday's this friendly gave Liam Lynch his first chance
of having a look at a number of new players. The kick-off was delayed by a
quarter of an hour due to a problem of getting Epsom & Ewell players to
the ground and by the time kick-off commenced we were forced to field a team
of only 10 players for the whole match.

Epsom & Ewell had
the first opportunity on 8 minutes when a corner was flicked on in the
Horsham area, John Oppong-Baah's snap shot was saved at point blank range by
the Horsham keeper. Horsham's first chance came on 16 minutes when the centre
forward skipped past a last ditch challenge for a run in on goal but new
keeper Mark Cowhig was able to get down low to his right to turn the ball
around the post spectacularly.

Horsham's defence opened
up on 26 minutes for John Oppong-Baah to get a ball threaded through to him,
the Horsham keeper getting out to block the shot with the rebound falling for
Epsom number 8 to hit a volley from just inside the Horsham area that shaved
the outside of the post.

Nice interlocking
passing on 28 minutes saw a ball threaded through to Mark Solomon on the edge
of the area but his shot was blocked by the Horsham keeper diving at the
Epsom midfielder's feet. Epsom & Ewell fell behind on 40 minutes when a
cross into the centre of the area sees keeper Mark Cowhig shout 'goes away',
unfortunately the defender misheard him thinking the keeper was coming for
the ball and the Horhsam centre-forward had the easiest of unmarked headers
guiding the ball into the back of the net.

John Oppong-Baah should
have sent the sides in level on half-time when a lay off by the Epsom number
9 on 43 minutes sees Oppong-Baah clear but he manages to slice his shot from
the edge of the box the wrong side of the post.

Half-time: Horsham 1,
Epsom & Ewell 0

John Oppong-Baah made up
for his miss on 47 minutes when another ball through is flicked on sending
Oppong-Baah clear again and this time with a harder opportunity that his
first half chances he manages to arrow the ball inches inside the near post
from 15 yards out.

Horsham re-took the lead
on 52 minutes when a long ball forward sees the Epsom & Ewell defence on
the back foot, the right winger getting in behind the defence lifts the ball
tight into the far top corner of the net over Mark Cowhig who had come out to
narrow the angle.

Horsham could have
extended the lead on 75 minutes when a rasping shot from 20 yards out sees
Mark Cowhig get fingertips on to the ball to divert the ball on to the bar,
the follow-up header by the Horsham striker no more than 10 yards out sees
Cowhig react quickly from the original save to spring back off the floor to
make a reflex save of the ball that had already gone behind him.

Horsham did extend the
lead on 82 minutes when a cross to the back post sees the weary Epsom &
Ewell players unable to deal with the cross allowing the ball to be headed
home from no more than 6 yards out. Tired marking on 88 minutes sees another
cross come across the face of the box and Horsham with players queuing up for
the ball see the ball volleyed home from around 8 yards out. John Oppong-Baah
and Mark Solomon both had shots inside the Horsham area blocked in the final
couple of minutes.

Although it does seem a
heavy defeat for the youth team, the performance this evening was very
promising and bodes well for the season ahead in a stronger division in the
Southern Youth League. From last year's youth team only three players were
playing tonight and most the other players that are still eligible to play
for the youth team will be back for the start of the season from either
injury or holiday.

New keeper Mark Cowhig
who has replaced Jake Hopper according to manager Liam Lynch is "an
ex-County keeper and has four years of experience on the books of Fulham as a
schoolboy and trainee" and he did have a very competent and impressive
performance this evening.

The number 8 had a good
performance in midfield along with Mark Solomon. The 16 year old stocky built
striker playing alongside John Oppong-Baah that has joined from Croydon
Athletic looked a handful on numerous occasions and when Charlie Pritchard
comes back from injury, the possibility of the three upfront may well cause
defences trouble this season.

Monday 09th August 2004

Youth defeated by
Bromley

Epsom & Ewell went
down 3-1 this evening in their friendly against Bromley at Wallington Sports
& Social Club.

Epsom & Ewell took
the lead on 14 minutes when a ball through by Elio Escoffery down the right
wing finds the Epsom & Ewell number 9, who hits a fantastic 25 yard shot
into the far top corner of the net. Bromley equalised on 22 minutes when a
sequence of passing moves sees them enter the Epsom & Ewell area with
Epsom & Ewell defenders backing off that allowed the Bromley player to
swivel and hit a low shot into the net from 10 yards out.

Both teams had chances
in the remainder of the first half. Bromley upped the tempo from the start of
the second half as they seemed to be become more organised, and their efforts
paid off on 51 minutes when a whipped in cross following a cleared corner sees
a Bromley player get in front of his marker sticking out his foot and angling
the ball past Mark Cowhig.

Bromley extended their
lead further on 68 minutes when Epsom & Ewell are only able to half clear
the ball away, Bromley hitting a diagonal ball straight back into the edge of
the Epsom & Ewell area and it was a Bromley player first to get to the ball
to guide a shot from 15 yards out into the net off the inside of the far
post.

The light faded very
quickly (within 10 minutes) with the help of electrical storm clouds rolling
in towards the ground that saw the referee on 76 minutes confer with both
management teams that the game should be concluded at that point, with
everyone in agreement with no floodlights available to be used this was the
best option.

Wednesday 11th August
2004

Epsom & Ewell Youth
left shell-shocked

Epsom & Ewell's
youth side were left shell shocked after dominating the whole game but coming
out as the losing side in Woking in a match had it not been for presence of
the Westfield keeper and desperate defending, the visitors could have chalked
up double figures.

Epsom & Ewell's Rob
Thompsett after four minutes hit a free-kick from 20 yards out that required
the Westfield keeper to make a full length diving save to his right.

Epsom & Ewell's good
build up down the left wing on 6 minutes sees Liam Oxley have the ball laid
into him on the edge of the area, his turn and shot from 15 yards out falling
agonisingly wide of the near post.

A Rob Thompsett corner
on 7 minutes sees Rob Lynch get a header in that is blocked on the line, the
follow up by Jay Mewes from the edge of the six yard area is headed over for
another corner by a Westfield defender on his own line.

The second corner by Rob
Thompsett finds John Oppong-Baah's head, the ball crashing off the top of the
crossbar. Westfield broke through the Epsom & Ewell defence on 11 minutes
and had it not been for Billy Georgiou on the goal line, the hosts would have
taken the lead.

Epsom & Ewell nearly
sprung the Westfield defence on 22 minutes with a ball for Liam Oxley to turn
his defender, but the Westfield defender holding the Epsom & Ewell
player's shirt saw a free kick awarded which was taken by Rob Thompsett wide
of the box on the right, the free-kick bringing an excellent save out of the
Westfield keeper who managed to tip the ball on to the post and out for a
corner.

A left wing attack on 29
minutes sees the ball find John Oppong-Baah who noticing the keeper off his
line attempted to find the far top corner of the net with a 25 yards shot on
the diagonal but the ball is tipped on to the bar by the home keeper. Epsom &
Ewell did take the lead on 31 minutes when a Rob Thompsett corner is flicked
on by Jay Mewes into the path of John Oppong-Baah to volley the ball into the
back of the net from 8 yards out.

The lead lasted only 39
seconds as Westfield broke from the kick-off, the Epsom & Ewell defence
were caught square playing two Westfield player's onside that allowed one of
them to sneak in and guide the ball past Mark Cowhig from 10 yards out. John Oppong-Baah
had the final chance of the half when he was sent clear through the middle of
the pitch by Elio Escoffery, he managed to lift the ball over the Westfield
keeper's dive 15 yards out but the end result was that the ball found the top
of the netting.

Epsom & Ewell
regained the lead on 47 minutes when a ball placed wide of the Westfield box
on the right by Patrick Mhondiwa found John Oppong-Baah his first time cross
was overhit slightly but it still managed to find Elio Escoffery, his chip
finding Rob Lynch with an overhead bicycle kick that sent the ball into the
back of the net.

Westfield had a 20 yard
shot that required Mark Cowhig to tip the ball around the post for a corner.
Epsom & Ewell's goal kick on 75 minutes sees Westfield move the ball back
towards the Epsom & Ewell area, no successful Epsom & Ewell tackles
sees the ball eventually turned home from 12 yards out past Mark Cowhig.

Elio Escoffery was sent
clear thanks to a lay off by John Oppong-Baah on 78 minutes, Escoffery
managed to roll the ball past the Westfield keeper and was already starting
to celebrate as it rolled towards the empty net only for a last ditch diving
slide by a Westfield defender to knock the ball wide of the post before his
legs collided with the post.

Epsom & Ewell were
made to pay the price in the last minute of normal time when a long-ball
forward sees two Epsom & Ewell defenders go for the same ball and both
slipping before they can clear the ball allowing the ball to run to the
Westfield striker to knock the ball under the dive of Mark Cowhig and into
the net.

Dulwich
Hamlet 5-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
18th August 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

The Youth team opened
their Southern Youth League season with a tricky visit to Champion Hill
Stadium to face Dulwich Hamlet who were runners-up to Sutton United in last
season’s Central Section.

Dulwich hit the bar in
the early stages and our first real threat came from Dean Tullett’s through
ball to Liam Oxley which the Dulwich ‘keeper had to clear for a throw.  Dulwich were nearly caught when Oxley
picked up a loose ball, spread it wide to John Oppong-Baah, but his cross
failed to clear the first defender and Dulwich went ahead after 31 minutes,
James converting a low cross.

Oxley went close with a
shot that the ‘keeper saved at the second attempt and we nearly equalised
when the ‘keeper failed to gather Sam Carter’s cross, but John Oppong-Baah
headed over.  Sam Carter was just wide
with a long-range effort in the opening minute of the second half, but
Dulwich went further ahead when a shot from James went in off the inside of a
post, but we fought back and pulled a goal back after 54 minutes, Liam Oxley
pushing a loose ball through for John Oppong-Baah to lift the ball over the
advancing ‘keeper.

Dulwich regained their
two-goal lead two minutes later, and missed several good chances as Epsom
began to tire, they went 4-1 ahead after 76 minutes, but Oppong-Baah scored
his second from Ilir Azemi’s through ball, only for Dulwich to make it 5-2
seven minutes later.

Luke Burton, Paul Jones,
Billy Georgiou, Rob Lynch, Jonathan Waro, Mark Solomon, Sam Carter (Russell
Williams 64 mins), Dean Tullett (Ilir Azemi 60 mins), Elio Escoffery (Philip
N’gbale 45 mins), Liam Oxley, John Oppong-Baah  Other subs: Eris Markaj, Matt Jiggins (not
used).

Dulwich
Hamlet 5-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
18th August 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's youth team went to Champion Hill for their first fixture
in the strong division in the Southern Youth League but were defeated
5-2.

The Epsom & Ewell
youth team were getting as much possession as the hosts but were caught
playing too far up the field, the defence being caught too square too often
by the more experienced Dulwich Hamlet side.

Epsom
& Ewell 7-1 Croydon Athletic

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
25th August 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell
produced a very confident display to knock seven goals past their Croydon
Athletic counterparts playing their first league match of the season.

Epsom & Ewell opened
the scoring on 5 minutes when a cross into the middle of the Croydon Athletic
box finds Liam Oxley with a header that come off a Croydon Athletic
defender's head but John Oppong-Baah with an overhead kick 8 yards out
manages to accurately find the back of the net past the Croydon Athletic
keeper.

Rob Lynch's long pass on
22 minutes sees the Croydon Athletic defence caught square, John Oppong-Baah
using his speed picking the ball up 30 yards from goal and taking it into the
box sees his shot from 10 yards out blocked by the Croydon Athletic keeper
but the ball rolls back to him allowing him to walk the ball into the back of
the net.

Elio Escoffery on 35
minutes sends the ball through a gap splitting the visitor's defence, former
Croydon Athletic youth player Liam Oxley picking the ball up on the edge of
the Croydon Athletic area goes through one tackle and rounding the keeper
allowing himself to walk the ball into the goal to make a three goal
advantage.

Epsom & Ewell keeper
Luke Burton was forced into parrying a 20 yard Croydon Athletic shot over the
bar on 43 minutes.

Half-time: Epsom &
Ewell 3, Croydon Athletic 0

Epsom & Ewell on 55
minutes hit another long ball forward, the ball finding Liam Oxley to flick
the ball on and John Oppong-Baah trying to bring the ball down actually
deflects the ball into open space left by the Croydon Athletic defence
shuffling across the pitch straight into the path of Elio Escoffery 25 yards
out, seeing the Croydon Athletic keeper 10 yards off his line he picks his
spot in the far corner of the net with a delightful chip.

Epsom & Ewell
increased the lead further on 60 minutes when a Dean Tullett free-kick sees
the Croydon Athletic keeper calling that the ball is his, the Croydon
Athletic defence stopping assuming he was going to collect the ball but Rob
Lynch's persistence to get to the ball paid off as he was able to get his
foot to the ball first to flick it home past the Croydon Athletic keeper from
10 yards out.

Croydon Athletic's build
up from the back on 62 minutes sees the ball near the Epsom & Ewell area,
a 25 yard dipping shot over Luke Burton finding the back of the net off the
underside of the crossbar.

A Croydon Athletic
free-kick on 72 minutes sees the ball played sideways, the shot from 20 yards
out requiring Luke Burton to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Epsom & Ewell had
switched off and looked happy to settle for a 5-1 win by the time the referee
awarded a penalty on 84 minutes to Croydon Athletic for what he deemed a foul
in the Epsom & Ewell box that saw a number of Epsom & Ewell player complaining
about the decision, but the well taken penalty by Croydon Athletic sees Luke
Burton guess correctly to dive to his right making an excellent stop. The
loose ball from the save is played upfield straight into Liam Oxley in the
centre circle who releases a diagonal ball out towards the right side of the
Croydon Athletic area for Phillip N'gbale (who had come on ten minutes prior
to replace Elio Escoffery), the Epsom & Ewell player manages to get to
the ball first forcing the Croydon Athletic keeper to make a block but
N'gbale picked up the loose ball and walked it into the back of the net.

Sam Carter won Epsom
& Ewell a free-kick to the left side of the Croydon Athletic box in
injury time, Dean Tullett's free-kick is headed home by Ryan Butt rising
above the Croydon Athletic defenders from 8 yards out.

Epsom & Ewell: Luke
Burton, Paul Jones (sub. Michael James (16), 74 mins), Johnathan Waro, Mark
Solomon, Tom Larkin, Dean Tullett, Ryan Butt, Rob Lynch, Elio Escoffery (sub.
Phillip N'gbale (12), 74 mins), Liam Oxley, John Oppong-Baah (sub. Sam Carter
(17), 80 mins). Subs not used: Russell Williams (14), Ilir Azemi (15)

Sutton
United 4-0 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
1st September 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

Following our crushing
7-1 home win over Croydon Athletic, they faced the daunting trip to Gander
Green Lane to face league champions Sutton United, and it must be said, not
one of our better showings, going down 4-0.

Sutton
United 4-0 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
1st September 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Following on from the
emphatic victory at home to Croydon Athletic last week, the youth team looked
overwhelmed in the surroundings of Gander Green Lane against defending
Southern Youth League champions Sutton United.

Epsom & Ewell's
defence was caught napping on 5 minutes when a Sutton United player is able
to drift in from behind two Epsom & Ewell defenders to guide the ball
home, and Epsom & Ewell went further behind 20 minutes later when the
Sutton player goes through four challenges before hitting a shot from 20
yards wide of Mark Cowhig into the far corner of the net.

Sutton United wrapped up
the match in two second half minutes mid way through the half, the third goal
saw the Sutton United player timing his run to perfection to collect a
through pass and sprint away from the Epsom & Ewell defence before
passing the ball into the net from 10 yards out past Mark Cowhig who had come
out to narrow the angle.

The fourth goal less
than a minute later was a blink and miss it one that saw the referee award a
free-kick 25 yards from goal, the ball finding the net within 5 seconds off a
quickly taken free-kick with the referee trying to arrange the Epsom &
Ewell wall - whether the referee agreed to the free-kick being taken quickly
we shall never know but the goal stood.

Epsom
& Ewell 4-0 Lewisham Borough

Southern Youth League

Tuesday
7th September 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

The following Tuesday a
visit from Lewisham Borough, and a return to winning ways, Mark Solomon gave
us the lead after just 4 minutes with a low angled drive, John Oppong-Baah
added the second after 35 minutes, Liam Oxley got the third after 54 minutes,
and Sam Carter made it 4-0 cutting in from the right to score after 64
minutes.

Epsom
& Ewell 4-0 Lewisham Borough

Southern Youth League

Tuesday
7th September 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell
secured their second home league win of the season with a comfortable 4-0 win
against Lewisham Borough.

Epsom & Ewell were
quickly into their stride and opened the scoring after just 4 minutes when a
lay-off by Liam Oxley found Mark Solomon who twisted past two Lewisham
defenders before slotting the ball into the far bottom corner of the net from
10 yards out.

Epsom & Ewell
extended the lead on 35 minutes when Liam Oxley did well to turn his marker
and dart down the right wing before hitting a cross from 25 yards out that
found a combination of John Oppong-Baah's head and shoulder 8 yards out
looping the ball over the Lewisham keeper - the visitors keeper made a good
effort to claw the ball back out of the net but the ball was 2 yards over the
line by the time he managed to get glove to ball.

Half-time: Epsom &
Ewell 2-0 Lewisham Borough

A very weird booking
occurred two minutes into the second half when the referee stopped play
during a Lewisham attack and after half a minute of talking to his
assistants, the Lewisham number 12 was shown a yellow card - the reason being
due to an "unauthorised substitution" as the Lewisham team had
taken off the number 10 and brought on their only substitute during the first
half with none of the match officials or any spectators noticing or being
informed.

Epsom & Ewell
increased the lead on 54 minutes when a slick interchange of passing in the
Lewisham half saw six players work the ball into the visitors box before Liam
Oxley 8 yards out drilled the ball low towards the bottom corner wrong
footing the Lewisham keeper who managed to get the outside of the boot to the
ball which only helped to deflect it into the roof of the net.

A flowing move on 57
minutes sees Elio Escoffery manage to break the offside trap around the back
of the Lewisham defence, his cross from a narrow angle sees John Oppong-Baah
inches away from heading the ball into the net but Sam Carter coming in at
the back hit a fierce shot from 15 yards out that beat the Lewisham keeper
but came thundering back off the outside of the post.

Lewisham were reduced to
10 men on 60 minutes when their number 12 caught Epsom & Ewell keeper
Mark Cowhig with a late challenge, the referee had no choice but to show a
second yellow card followed by a red - the sending off more or less killed
the game as a contest.

Epsom & Ewell scored
the fourth goal on 62 minutes when Sam Carter weaved past two Lewisham
midfielders before hitting a powerful low swerving shot that went just inside
the near post with the Lewisham keeper unable to get a cross to reach it.

Sam Carter nearly made
it five on 88 minutes when he was sent clear, he was rushed into a shot on
the edge of the Lewisham box trying to find the top corner of the net with a
chip over the advancing keeper but the ball dipped a couple of yards wide of
the net thanks to the wind conditions that had got up by the end of the
match.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-2 Thamesmead Town (after extra time - won 5-4 on penalties)

F.A.Youth Cup
Preliminary Round

Wednesday
15th September 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

We had been paired at
home to Thamesmead Town in the Preliminary Round of the F.A. Youth Cup, John
Oppong-Baah gave us the lead after 26 minutes, but some sloppy defending
allowed Thamesmead to equalise, before John Oppong-Baah added his second
deflecting in a shot from Liam Oxley.

We didn’t really turn
our superiority into goals and poor marking allowed Thamesmead to equalise
after 75 minutes. No goals in extra time, so the tie would be decided on
penalties, Liam Oxley, Marc Muino, Mark Solomon, Michael James and John
Oppong-Baah all successfully converted their spot-kicks, as did the first
four Thamesmead players, but Thamesmead skipper, Scott Ketts, blasted his
spot-kick high over the bar (and out of the ground) to send us through.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-2 Thamesmead Town (after extra time - won 5-4 on penalties)

F.A.Youth Cup
Preliminary Round

Wednesday
15th September 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell were
made to work extremely hard to progress to the first qualifying round of the
FA Youth Cup before eventually shading a penalty shoot-out 5-4 against
Thamesmead Town.

Epsom & Ewell could
have been ahead on 10 minutes when a Rob Thompsett free-kick finds Mark
Solomon with a backward header, Jay Mewes' header though goes straight to
Thamesmead Town keeper Danny Young.

Epsom & Ewell did
take the lead on 25 minutes when a Liam Oxley through ball finds John
Oppong-Baah just on-side to speed away from the Thamesmead defence and side
foot the ball tight into the corner of the net from 13 yards out past Danny
Young.

Thamesmead were gifted
their equaliser on 31 minutes when an error in the Epsom & Ewell defence
sees Simon Mace beat Epsom & Ewell goalkeeper Mark Cowhig to the ball
before rounding the keeper and slotting the ball home from 15 yards out.

Epsom & Ewell went
into half-time leading but it could have been different if Ashley Dunkley's
shot had been lower and had not hit the crossbar on 40 minutes but John
Oppong-Baah put Epsom & Ewell ahead for a second time in injury time when
getting his body in the way of a Liam Oxley shot that saw the ball wrong foot
Thamesmead keeper Danny Young and spin into the opposite corner of the
net.

Epsom & Ewell were
having the majority of the shots at goal throughout the second half but were
unable to convert the chances and Thamesmead equalised on 76 minutes when a
free-kick to the far post is headed back across the face of goal for Scott
Ketts to ram the ball home from no more than 6 yards out.

Both sides had chances
to score in extra-time but both Mark Cowhig and Danny Young made saves to
keep their sides in the tie and send the tie into a penalty shoot-out.

Thamesmead keeper Danny
Young managed to get his hands to three of the Epsom & Ewell penalties by
Marc Muino, Mark Solomon and Michael James but all five of Epsom &
Ewell's penalties still managed to find the back of the net.

Following four
brilliantly taken Thamesmead penalties that Mark Cowhig could not get near it
was down to Scott Ketts to take Thamesmead's fifth penalty to take the tie
into a sudden death penalty shoot-out but he skied his penalty into the back
gardens behind the car park to set up a home tie against Horsham YMCA in the
week commencing 27th September 2004.

Epsom & Ewell: Mark
Cowhig, Marc Muino, Jonathan Waro, Billy Georgiou, Rob Thompsett (sub. Paul
Jones (12), 95 mins), Mark Solomon, Jay Mewes (sub. Michael James (15), 70
mins), Rob Lynch, Liam Oxley, Sam Carter, John Oppong-Baah. Subs not used:
Elio Escoffery (14)

Thamesmead Town: Danny
Young, Jake Johnson, Dean Pitt, Tom Carmichael, Scott Ketts, James Taylor,
Javal Stewart, Julius Odiase, Ashley Dunkley, Simon Mace, Rickie Mead. Subs:
Anthony Bayley (12/GK), Kyle Kalala (14), Spencer O'Brien (16)

Tonbridge
Angels 3-1 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Tuesday
21st September 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

The following week we
lost 1-3 at Tonbridge Angels in a league game, Rob Lynch gave us an early
lead with a thundering header from Rob Thompsett’s corner, Tonbridge
equalised just before the break with a disputed goal, and they were by far
the better side in the second half, going ahead after 53 minutes. We nearly
equalised when Michael James saw his acrobatic shot pushed over by the
Tonbridge ‘keeper, but the home side added a third in injury time from a free
kick.

Tonbridge
Angels 3-1 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Tuesday
21st September 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth side came away from Longmead Stadium defeated 3-1 after taking a 10th
minute lead through Rob Lynch's powerful downward header from a Rob Thompsett
corner.

Rob Thompsett nearly
extended the lead on 15 minutes when his free-kick was deflected by the wall
on to the top of the bar.

Tonbridge drew level on
40 minutes when a floated ball in sees Mark Cowhig get his hands on the ball,
the Tonbridge striker knocking into Cowhig, the ball going over the line with
the referee allowing the goal to stand.

Tonbridge took the lead
on 52 minutes with a breakaway attack that saw Mark Cowhig beaten from 15
yards out. Tonbridge should have extended the lead during the second half
with four good chances but Mark Cowhig was in fine form to prevent Epsom
& Ewell going further behind.

Michael James, Sam
Carter and John Oppong-Baah all had chances in the closing ten minutes that
brought fine one handed saves out of the Tonbridge keeper on each occasion as
Epsom & Ewell had an onslaught to find the equaliser but Tonbridge broke
away against the run of play in the fourth minute of injury time to cross the
ball into the middle of the Epsom & Ewell area for the ball to tucked
away from 8 yards out.

Epsom
& Ewell 3-1 Horsham YMCA

F.A.Youth Cup First
Qualifying Round

Wednesday
29th September 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

Horsham YMCA were the
next visitors in the F.A. Youth Cup, we had lost twice to them in the league
last season, but we got away to a perfect start, Liam Oxley heading in a
cross from Elio Escoffery, Ryan Butt had shot blocked before we went further
ahead, Oxley spread the ball out wide, Sam Carter went past a defender and
whipped in a low cross which John Oppong-Baah side-footed home.

Horsham hit the post
just before the break and they pulled a goal back after 71 minutes, but we
finished by far the stronger of the two sides, Rob Lynch rattled the crossbar
in injury time but made amends seconds later, Liam Oxley cutting in along the
bye-line and pulling the ball back for Lynch to fire home.

Epsom
& Ewell 3-1 Horsham YMCA

F.A.Youth Cup First
Qualifying Round

Wednesday
29th September 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell beat
Horsham YMCA 3-1 at Merland Rise to progress to the the Second Qualifying
Round of the FA Youth Cup where we will face either Peacehaven and Telscombe
or Fisher Athletic away.

Epsom & Ewell were
given an excellent start when Elio Escoffery's cross from the left wing finds
the head of Liam Oxley arriving at the front post to powerfully head the ball
past Horsham YMCA keeper Ken Westoby after just 98 seconds.

The lead was increased
on 36 minutes when Liam Oxley found Sam Carter on a right wing overlap,
Carter managing to get past his defender and cross a low ball across the edge
of the six yard box for John Oppong-Baah arriving at the back post to slide
the ball back across Horsham YMCA keeper Ken Westoby, the YMCA keeper getting
a glove to the ball but the momentum of the ball still saw the ball manage to
find the back of the net.

Epsom & Ewell were
lucky not to be only a goal up at half time when on 41 minutes a Horsham YMCA
shot from 25 yards out saw Epsom & Ewell keeper Mark Cowhig leave the
ball only to see the ball rebound off the post.

Epsom & Ewell seemed
to be cruising along to victory until Horsham YMCA were very fortunate to get
a goal back on 70 minutes to set up a grandstand and nail biting finish when
Mark Cowhig allowed himself to drop a cross straight at the feet of Chris Southall
who slotted the ball into the back of the net from no more than 3 yards
out.

Epsom & Ewell nearly
sealed the match in the third minute of injury time when Rob Lynch's 30 yard
shot came cannoning back off the crossbar, Horsham YMCA first to the ball
booting into the Epsom & Ewell half where they had a chance to get an
equaliser with a cross to the back post but the ball thankfully found the
side netting, Mark Cowhig's goal kick finding Jay Mewes on the right wing who
held it up for Liam Oxley who worked hard to get through three tackles
finding his way to the by-line and squaring the ball to Rob Lynch to slide
the ball diagonally home into the far corner of the net past Ken Westoby from
10 yards out.

Epsom & Ewell: Mark
Cowhig, Marc Muino, Billy Georgiou, Rob Lynch, Jonathan Waro, Elio Escoffery,
Sam Carter, Ryan Butt (sub. Jay Mewes (14), 77 mins), Liam Oxley (sub. Ilir
Azemi (15), 90 mins), Mark Solomon, John Oppong-Baah (sub. Michael James (12),
64 mins). Subs not used: Eris Markaj (16), Rob Thompsett (17)

Fisher
Athletic 2-4 Epsom & Ewell (played at Greenwich Borough FC)

F.A.Youth Cup Second
Qualifying Round

Thursday
14th October 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

Last week saw a visit to
Greenwich Borough to play Fisher Athletic in the 2nd Qualifying Round, and Elio Escoffery nearly gave us a 2nd minute lead
with a shot which the Fisher ‘keeper pushed round.  We went ahead after 13 minutes, Rob Lynch
played the ball up to Liam Oxley on the corner of the box, and with the
‘keeper advancing he lifted the ball over him and into the empty net.

Fisher equalised after
32 minutes through their impressive midfield player Jason Stuart, but we
settled the tie in the opening minutes of the second half, Michael James
pulled the ball back for Elio Escoffery to flight the ball over the ‘keeper
and in off the far post. Three minutes later, again Michael James was the
architect, laying the ball on for Elio Escoffery, whose low ball was
converted by John Oppong-Baah.

We added a fourth after
67 minutes, Liam Oxley laid off Elio Escoffery’s free kick to Sam Carter, who
knocked a low ball across the box for Liam Oxley to score. Fisher pulled a
goal back after 72 minutes, but we finished with a late flurry, substitute Philip
N’gbale was fouled in the box but his spot-kick was saved by the Fisher
‘keeper, and a minute later N’gbale surged into the box but saw his shot
rebound off the post.

In the 3rd Qualifying
Round we have been drawn away to Dover Athletic.

Fisher
Athletic 2-4 Epsom & Ewell (played at Greenwich Borough FC)

F.A.Youth Cup Second
Qualifying Round

Thursday
14th October 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth team progressed into the third qualifying round after defeating Fisher
Athletic at Greenwich Borough.

Liam Oxley gave Epsom
& ewell the perfect start on 12 minutes when a long cross field ball over
the Fisher defence to the right wing sees Fisher Athletic thinking about how
to clear the ball allowing Liam Oxley to sneak in and lift the ball over Charley
Farrelly from 20 yards out.

Fisher Athletic drew
level on 31 minutes when a whipped in ball sees the Epsom & Ewell defence
only half clear allowing Jason Stuart coming in to find the roof of the net
from 10 yards out. Epsom & Ewell took the tie by the scruff of the neck
at the start of the second half, Michael James cut back from the left by-line
on 47 minutes allowing him to lay the ball off to Elio Escoffery who hit a
shot from 20 yards out that was going away from the goal, the ball finding
the inside of the post and then the underside of the crossbar before nestling
in the back of the net.

Michael James was again
the provider on 49 minutes when his pass split the Fisher defence allowing
John Oppong-Baah to collect the ball, take it into the box and slot the ball
home past Charley Farrelly from 8 yards out. A scuffed free-kick by Elio
Escoffery sees the ball find Liam Oxley who managed to hold off two defenders
before laying it off inside the Fisher Athletic box for Sam Carter to swivel
past his defender and fire a ball across the face of the six yard area that
found Liam Oxley who had managed to get to the back post to get a foot to the
ball to divert the ball into the net from 3 yards out.

Fisher reduced the
arrears on 71 minutes when the Epsom & Ewell defence failed to clear the
ball allowing Jason Stuart to fire the ball into the net from 8 yards out.
Epsom & Ewell's nerves were starting to show when Fisher Athletic were
able to a header in that crashed off the top of the crossbar on 74
minutes.

Epsom & Ewell could
have added three goals in injury time when Phillip Ng'bale was brought down
in the area but Charley Farrelly saved Ng'bale's penalty with a good stop,
Ng'bale within 40 seconds on the next Epsom & Ewell break saw his shot
from 25 yards out beat Charley Farrelly but the ball came crashing back off
the outside of the post, and Rob Lynch was played in for a one on one but
Farrelly did enough to make the ball fly inches over the top of the crossbar.

In the third qualifying
round Epsom & Ewell will be away to Dover Athletic who beat Ramsgate 5-4
on penalties after drawing 1-1.

Dover
Athletic 2-0 Epsom & Ewell

F.A.Youth Cup Third
Qualifying Round

Tuesday
26th October 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

A very commendable
performance from Epsom and Ewell’s youngsters at the Hoverspeed Stadium on
Tuesday against an extremely good Dover Athletic side, but a goal in each
half saw the end of their run in the F.A. Youth Cup.

On an immaculate
surface, it was the home side that started the better, Chris Wicks hit the
bar from a free-kick and Epsom’s first chance saw a 25-yard effort from John
Oppong-Baah wide of the mark.

A deep cross from Rob
Thompsett saw Gore head away from Michael James, ‘keeper Jordan Pettman
scrambling the ball away, and Pettman was forced into a low save to prevent
Philip N’gbale’s cross from reaching Liam Oxley.

Dover took the lead
after 34 minutes with a somewhat fortuitous goal, a free-kick outside the box
saw the ball hit Billy Georgiou in the chest and deflect into the net.

Epsom bounced straight
back, Pettman saved a shot from N’gbale with his feet, Billy Georgiou hooked
a chance over after Sam Carter had returned Thompsett’s half-cleared corner
back into the box and in the final minute a shot from N’gbale hit Sam
Vallance and deflected behind for a corner.

Dover added a second
goal three minutes into the second half, a quick break culminated in Nathan
Ditchburn firing past Mark Cowhig, but Epsom showed they were still not out
of it, Pettman saved an effort from Sam Carter, and a minute later pushed
Oppong-Baah’s shot round the post.

Sean Armstrong hit the
bar midway through the half and the nearest Epsom came to reducing the
arrears was a fiercely struck effort from Liam Oxley which Pettman just
managed to tip on to the post.

Epsom & Ewell:  Mark Cowhig, Billy Georgiou, Rob Thompsett,
Rob Lynch, Mark Solomon, Philip N’gbale, Marc Muino, Michael James, Liam
Oxley, Sam Carter, John Oppong-Baah.

Subs used: Jonathan
Waro, Simeon Dixon

Dover
Athletic 2-0 Epsom & Ewell

F.A.Youth Cup Third
Qualifying Round

Tuesday
26th October 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The youth team's
progress in the FA Youth Cup came to an end at Dover Athletic tonight
in the 3rd Qualifying Round when they were defeated 2-0.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-1 Corinthian Casuals (played at King George's Field, Corinthian
Casuals FC)

Southern Youth League
Cup First Round

Wednesday
10th November 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

The Youth team recovered
from an early deficit to reach the 2nd Round of the
League Cup, where we have been drawn away to Woking, the tie having been
switched to King Georges Field because of our home Reserve Team fixture
against Hampton and Richmond Borough.

Both Philip N’gbale
& Sam Carter had strong early runs at the Casuals defence, and after
Casuals’ Joe Hammond had curled a shot wide, the Casuals ‘keeper did well to
push a Liam Oxley free-kick round the post.
Casuals went ahead after 21 minutes, Douthwaite cutting in from the
left with a shot that Mark Cowhig parried and Dan Jackson reacted first,
side-footing home.

Marc Muino’s pass to
N’gbale saw him outnumbered by Casuals defenders on the edge of the box and a
cross from John Oppong-Baah saw Rob Lynch and N’gbale just fail to make
contact.  A quick break just before the
interval saw N’gbale send Oxley away down the right, and his bye-line cross
saw Lynch diving in to head just over.

We equalised four
minutes into the second half, Oppong-Baah went past Ben Ward, was pulled down
in the box, and after Harrison had been booked for dissent, Oppong-Baah
scored from the spot.  The Casuals
saved another effort from Oxley and we got stronger as the game progressed,
Oppong-Baah was just wide from Carter’s cross and an excellent pass from
N’gbale for Oxley saw ‘keeper Smith quickly off his line to block.

Our winner came in
stoppage time, a free-kick on the right from Billy Georgiou saw ‘keeper Smith
hampered by one of his own defenders as he came to gather, Ryan Butt
celebrating his return to the side after injury, by nodding home the loose
ball.

Team:  Mark Cowhig, Jonathan Waro, Mark Solomon
(Michael James 79 mins), Rob Lynch, Billy Georgiou, Sam Carter, Marc Muino,
Ryan Butt, Liam  Oxley, Philip N’gbale,
John Oppong-Baah.   Other sub: Rob
Thompsett (not used).

Epsom
& Ewell 2-1 Corinthian Casuals (played at King George's Field, Corinthian
Casuals FC)

Southern Youth League
Cup First Round

Wednesday
10th November 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth followed in the footstep of the senior team eight days before by coming
back from a half-time deficit to snatch victory in the fourth minute of
injury time to gain an away tie against Woking in the next round of the
Southern Youth League Cup.

Epsom & Ewell fell
behind on 20 minutes when a surging run by a Corinthian Casuals midfielder
saw him not picked up by the Epsom & Ewell defence that allowed a shot to
come in that Mark Cowhig managed to block but the loose ball looped up for
another Corinthian Casuals player to hook the ball home from 5 yards
out.

Epsom & Ewell could
have been level going into the half-time break when a Sam Carter cross found
the head of Phillip N'gbale but the header went just over the crossbar from 7
yards out.

Epsom & Ewell's John
Oppong-Baah won a penalty on 50 minutes when he was forced wide in the
Corinthian Casuals box before being brought down from behind, Oppong-Baah
getting up and slotting the ball home past the Casuals keeper.

Both sides wanted to the
win and both sides had the opportunities, the best by Corinthian Casuals in
the third minute of injury time when a cross flashed across the face of the
six yard box but the ball could not be converted by any of the four Casuals players
who all tried to get a boot to the ball to stab it home.

Mark Cowhig's goal kick
saw Phillip N'gbale fouled, Billy Georgiou's free-kick saw the Corinthian
Casuals keeper impeded by one of his own defenders resulting in him not being
able to get a clean punch on the ball allowing Ryan Butt to head the ball
into the net from 6 yards out.

The youth will face
Woking in the next round most probably at Cobham rather than Kingfield
Stadium, as this is where they normally play their youth team matches.

Molesey
4-3 Epsom & Ewell

Surrey Midweek Floodlit
Cup Second Round

Wednesday
17th November 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

A resounding comeback
after a poor first-half performance which had seen us trailing 0-3 at
half-time. We had a couple of good one-on-one chances in the opening stages,
but John Oppong-Baah was wide with both and he had a third chance from Ryan
Butt’s through ball but the ‘keeper was quickly out to clear with his
feet.

Several rugged
challenges went unpunished in the first half and after a scrappy opening
period to the second half which saw N’gbale and Waro booked, together with
Kendrick of Molesey, we began to get on top, good skills from Philip N’gbale
created a chance for Oppong-Baah , the ‘keeper parried his shot and a
defender cleared, and the ‘keeper again did well to block Elio Escoffery’s
side-foot effort.

Sam Carter pulled a goal
back on 72 minutes and we were reduced to 10 men when Butt was sent off for a
second bookable offence but we still pulled a second goal back on 87 minutes
when awarded a penalty as a throw came into the box, Escoffery scoring from
the spot.  Molesey immediately regained
a two-goal advantage before we again came back with a goal right on 90
minutes, Billy Georgiou heading in an N’gbale free-kick.  Several minutes of stoppage time saw us
desperately pressing for the equaliser but Molesey held out.

Mark Cowhig, Philip
N’gbale, Ilir Azemi (Jonathan Waro 45 mins), Rob Lynch, Billy Georgiou, Elio
Escoffery, Simeon Dixon, Ryan Butt, Michael James, Sam Carter, John
Oppong-Baah.  Other sub: Eris Markaj
(not used).

Molesey
4-3 Epsom & Ewell

Surrey Midweek Floodlit
Cup Second Round

Wednesday
17th November 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell nearly
made a remarkable comeback against Molesey who looked to be sailing
through when they were 3-0 at half-time.

Epsom & Ewell should
have been 3-0 up inside the first ten minutes when John Oppong-Baah was given
three separate one on ones with the Molesey keeper, the first one after two
minutes saw the ball miss the open goal by a matter of inches and the other
two saw the Molesey keeper pull off two magnificent saves to his right.

Molesey also had an
opportunity to take the lead on 11 minutes when a shot from a corner somehow
missed the far post. Epsom & Ewell fell a goal behind on 33 minutes when
a long ball sees Billy Georgiou slip at the wrong moment allowing the Molesey
player to bring the ball to the Epsom & Ewell area before rounding Mark
Cowhig and placing the ball into the net from 10 yards out.

Molesey added to the
lead by taking advantage of the referee loosing the pee in his whistle as in
the first minute of injury time as Epsom & Ewell were waiting for the
whistle the referee had told Molesey to take the free-kick from 15 yards out
that found the far corner of the net with the Epsom & Ewell players
motionless.

Molesey added a third in
the third minute of injury time when a corner was played short, the shot from
the edge of the box finding the gloves of Mark Cowhig that deflected the ball
on to the underside of the bar before bouncing over the line.

Epsom & Ewell
reduced the arrears on 70 minutes when a long ball forward saw Sam Carter
pick the ball up and eventually get a shot in from just inside the box that
went through the Molesey keeper's legs. Epsom & Ewell a minute later saw
Ryan Butt sent-off for a second bookable offence with a tackle.

Epsom & Ewell were
given a glimmer of hope of a comeback when Elio Escoffery was awarded a
penalty on 83 minutes from the referee off a throw by Phillip N'gbale but who
knows the reason why, Escoffery stepping up and putting the ball to the left
of the Molesey keeper's dive.

Molesey's response on 87
minutes was to go straight through the Epsom & Ewell defensive line
before squaring the ball for another Molesey player to score what appeared to
be the winner. Epsom & Ewell showed their bounce back ability as straight
from the kick off the ball was played forward and Elio Escoffery was bundled
over.

Elio Escoffery's quick
free-kick finding Billy Georgiou with a downward header at the back post.
Epsom & Ewell were denied the opportunity to draw the match in the second
minute of injury time when a ball down the right wing saw Phillip N'gbale get
away from the last Molesey defender, where he managed to bring the ball into
the box where he was taken out with a tackle from behind with the Molesey
defender never attempting to play the ball - the referee blew for the foul
but instead of a penalty he decided that a drop ball should be awarded which
saw the majority of the Epsom & Ewell team surround the referee.

Carshalton
Athletic 2-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
1st December 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

A daunting trip to the
unbeaten league leaders at Colston Avenue, again we were behind, this time we
were 2-0 down after an hour, but a very impressive comeback saw us fight back
to equalise for a well-deserved point.

A good save from Luke
Burton, in goal for the suspended Mark Cowhig and Liam Oxley saw his cross
punched off John Oppong-Baah’s head by the Carshalton ‘keeper.

A long clearance from
Burton sent N’gbale clear, but he was forced out wide and his shot was
off-target and Carshalton took the lead in first-half injury time.

In the second half Luke
Burton pushed a quickly taken free-kick round the post, Rob Lynch saw his
chip from a free-kick just clear the bar, but Carshalton went further ahead
after 62 minutes from a penalty.

Simeon Dixon came on for
John Oppong-Baah, the Carshalton ‘keeper pushed a shot from Sam Carter round
the post and from a half-cleared Mark Solomon free-kick, Elio Escoffery did
well to keep his shot down, but it was just wide.

We pulled a goal back
after 76 minutes, Elio Escoffery’s pass finding Liam Oxley, his shot was
blocked but he followed up to force home the rebound.

Our pressure was
beginning to tell and we equalised two minutes from time, Simeon Dixon’s
quickly taken free-kick finding Sam Carter to score with a left-foot shot.

Luke Burton, Marc Muino,
Billy Georgiou, Jonathan Waro, Mark Solomon, Sam Carter, Philip N’gbale (Elio
Escoffery 45 mins), Ryan Butt (Ilir Azemi 70 mins), Rob Lynch, Liam Oxley,
John Oppong-Baah (Simeon Dixon 64 mins).

Carshalton
Athletic 2-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
1st December 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Carshalton Athletic's
youth who are running away with the Southern Youth League North Division had
only dropped 2 points out of 21 before this match, but Epsom & Ewell's
youth side came back from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw in an excellent
display.

The game started quite
open and well balanced with both intent on attacking but Carshalton Athletic
then stepped up a gear to play some nice passing football to show why they
are top of the table, Epsom & Ewell could have gone behind on at least
five occasions except for goal line blocks by Mark Solomon, Marc Muino and
three saves by keeper Luke Burton standing-in for the suspended Mark
Cowhig.

Carshalton Athletic did
take the lead in first half stoppage time when a corner from the left is
scrambled home off the underside of the crossbar. Carshalton Athletic came
out for the second half wanting to extend the lead further which they should
have done except for wayward shooting and two fantastic saves that Epsom
& Ewell keeper Luke Burton was forced into pulling off.

Carshalton Athletic were
awarded a penalty on 61 minutes when the ball finds an unmarked Carshalton
player in front of goal but Luke Burton pulls off another save, the rebound
then is forced wide of the goal but the referee pointed to the spot - it must
be assumed that Mark Solomon must have handled the ball as he received a
yellow card and no other infringement was seen to take place - the penalty
was slotted home past Luke Burton.

Carshalton Athletic were
then to rue another four opportunities in the next 10 minutes, the last one
coming off a block by Jonathan Waro allowing the Carshalton Athletic player
what seemed the easiest opportunity to score by placing the ball into either corner
of the net but instead he managed to blast the ball straight into Luke
Burton's chest.

Epsom & Ewell
started the comeback trail on 76 minutes when the overlap by Elio Escoffery
sees the ball played into Liam Oxley, the Epsom & Ewell striker went
around one defender before firing the ball under the body of the Carshalton
keeper from 10 yards out but his shot was blocked on the line, Oxley made no
mistake with the second opportunity that was presented to him by firing the
ball into the top of the net from 8 yards out.

The Epsom & Ewell
goal cast some doubt into the Carshalton Athletic minds as they started to
wilt under some pressure, and vocal support for the E's from around the
ground inspired the players as Epsom & Ewell started to pressurise their
hosts, and the pressure paid off on 86 minutes when a Simeon Dixon free-kick
finds the outside of the Carshalton Athletic wall, the ball spinning into Sam
Carter's path at the back post to slot the ball home from 7 yards out.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-3 Sutton United

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
8th December 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

Not much you can say
about this game, very few of us on the touchline saw much of what happened as
the fog that had swirled around during the first-half came down with a
vengeance after the break.

John Oppong-Baah hooked
a good chance wide before Sutton went ahead three minutes before the
interval.  Nial Lee came on for his
debut at half-time replacing the injured Sam Carter and Sutton added a second
after 56 minutes from a free-kick which was headed back across goal.

Michael James replaced
Billy Georgiou and after having waited patiently on the bench for most of the
season, Eris Markaj came on for his debut in the latter stages for Billy
Georgiou, and Sutton added a third three minutes from time, absolutely no
idea as to how the goal came about.

Probably the best
example of how bad the visibility was, ‘keeper Luke Burton asking Michael
James after the game whether he came on!!

Luke Burton, Marc Muino,
Billy Georgiou (Michael James), Rob Lynch, Mark Solomon, Simeon Dixon,
Jonathan Waro, Philip N’gbale, Liam Oxley, Sam Carter (Nial Lee), John
Oppong-Baah (Eris Markaj).

Epsom
& Ewell 0-3 Sutton United

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
8th December 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth team were defeated 3-0 by Sutton United at Merland Rise in conditions
what can only be described as a blanket of thick fog with visibility for the
final 15 minutes down to no more than 10 yards by which time most spectators
had already left.

Sutton United took the
lead on 41 minutes when a long goal kick bounced in between two Epsom &
Ewell defenders straight into the path of the Sutton United striker to chip
the ball over Luke Burton from the edge of the area.

The teams re-emerged
from half time to be greeted by thick fog that had encompassed the whole
pitch within the quarter an hour they had been off the pitch as visibility
was down to around 30 yards - at this point the match should have really been
abandoned.

Both keepers made
complaints to the referee that they could not see that anything but the
referee decided to play on. Sutton United scored two goals during the second
half but exact details cannot be explained due to the fog becoming thicker
and thicker.

Epsom & Ewell had
two shots fired at the Sutton United goal in the second half from outside the
box which saw the Sutton United keeper unable to react as the ball came
flying out of nowhere - a Rob Lynch shot going inches over the crossbar and a
Liam Oxley effort missing the far post.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-6 Dulwich Hamlet

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
15th December 2004

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth were hit for six by Dulwich Hamlet, but the E's were severely depleted
with seven players unavailable due to other commitments and injury.

Michael James and
Phillip N'gbale both came close for Epsom & Ewell on 9 and 10 minutes
with shots, but Dulwich took the lead on 12 minutes when a slip in the Epsom
& Ewell defence allowed their player to get in to whip a cross into the
far post for their player to convert at the far post.

Dulwich converted a low
cross from 6 yards out on 20 minutes and went further ahead on 22 minutes
when a mix up in the Epsom & Ewell area saw an overhead bicycle kick find
the back of the net from 10 yards out.

Dulwich made it four
when a shot was allowed to come in from 20 yards that went straight through
the crowd of players leaving stand-in keeper Liam Lockwood unsighted as the
ball whizzed past him.

The fifth was scored on
65 minutes when a mis-placed pass allowed the Dulwich player to take the ball
into the area and fire the ball under Liam Lockwood.

The sixth was scored on
87 minutes when the offside was broken allowing the Dulwich player top get
into the box and fire a shot into the far corner of the net past Liam
Lockwood.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-2 Chipstead

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
19th January 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell were
defeated 2-0 at home to Chipstead.

Chipstead took the lead
on 2 minutes when a free-kick found a free Chipstead player hovering at the
back post to head the ball back across goal. Epsom & Ewell's John
Oppong-Baah was thwarted on 10 minutes by the Chipstead keeper and Liam Oxley
saw his free-kick from just outside the box crash off the crossbar.

Epsom & Ewell had a
legal goal scrubbed out on 37 minutes, the indirect free-kick being laid off
to Liam Oxley to ht the ball through a crowd of players, the Chipstead keeper
fumbling the ball straight to John Oppong-Baah some 8 yards out to fire the
ball home - the linesman putting his flag up for offside only after the ball
had hit the back of the net.

The second half was very
poor with the only shot on target being Chipstead's goal on 60 minutes when a
corner was headed back across goal and the ball being turned home from 3
yards out. Liam Oxley had a late shot parried over by the Chipstead keeper.

Woking
1-2 Epsom & Ewell (played at Anvil Lane, Cobham F.C.)

Southern Youth League
Cup Second Round

Monday
24th January 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme (not issued)

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

A quarter-final place
for Liam Lynch and Steve Butt’s youth squad after Monday’s impressive
performance played at Cobham F.C., definitely the quarter-finals, but the
Southern Youth League have now ruled that the first round, in which we had a
bye, is now the preliminary round, the second round is now the first round,
and so on, (pay attention at the back, please!!).

‘Keeper Mark Cowhig
pushed an early shot round before we went ahead after 13 minutes, a ball into
the box was cleared by a defender straight to Philip N’gbale, who lashed the
ball home.

We nearly added a second
when Elio Escoffery’s corner bounced across goal, Liam Oxley laid it back for
Ryan Butt, who headed wide.

The Woking ‘keeper made
a low save from Rob Lynch’s free-kick, but when Woking did create any
chances, they found Mark Cowhig in unstoppable form, and we added a second on
the hour, Sam Carter knocking the ball across for Billy Georgiou to head in.

Another fine save by
Cowhig kept Woking out but they did pull a goal back right on 90 minutes from
a penalty after Tom Larkin had handled.

In the quarter-final we
are at home to the winners of the Fetcham Park/Whyteleafe first round tie,
who will meet Lewes in the second round, the ultimate winners meet us in the
(new) third round.

Mark Cowhig, Mark
Solomon, Billy Georgiou, Rob Lynch, Philip N’gbale (Ilir Azemi 90 mins), Sam
Carter, Elio Escoffery, Ryan Butt, Liam Oxley, Marc Muino, Tom Larkin.

Other subs: Michael
James, Jonathan Waro, Nial Lee, John Oppong-Baah (not used)

Woking
1-2 Epsom & Ewell (played at Anvil Lane, Cobham F.C.)

Southern Youth League
Cup Second Round

Monday
24th January 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth team came away from Cobham with a 2-1 victory against Woking to reach
the Southern Youth League Cup Quarter-Finals.

Elio Escoffery sent
Phillip N'gbale away behind the Woking defence on 13 minutes, N'gbale's cross
trying to find Liam Oxley was cut out but N'gbale was first to the loose ball
to crash the ball home from 8 yards out inside the Woking near post.

Epsom & Ewell's
defence held firm until half time with Woking unable to muster a shot on
target. Woking pushed up the pressure during the first fifteen minutes of the
second half and gave the E's defence three warning shots across the face of
goal.

Epsom & Ewell's
first break upfield in the second half on 60 minutes saw Sam Carter taken
out, the free-kick was only half cleared the ball being spread back out to
Carter, his chip in finding Billy Georgiou's head 7 yards out, the ball
looping over the Woking keeper to nestle in the back of the net.

Liam Oxley had a one on
one saved on 70 minutes by the Woking keeper diving to his left and two
minutes later Oxley was denied again from a corner. E's keeper Mark Cowhig
made a brilliant save on 79 minutes flinging his body to the left to parry a
25 yard low shot wide of the far post and out for a corner.

Epsom & Ewell gave
away a penalty in the second minute of injury time when Tom Larkin handled in
the box, the penalty being hit high into the roof of the net, but there was
only enough time for the restart and a long ball into the Woking area before the
referee blew the final time whistle to send Epsom & Ewell into the
quarter-finals with a guaranteed home draw.

Whyteleafe
3-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
2nd February 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth team deserved at least a point away at Whyteleafe but returned with
none thanks to a winner two minutes from time.

Epsom & Ewell were
forced to start the match with the bare minimum 11 players due to a traffic
accident that caused a number of players and officials not to arrive until
after kick-off.

The first twenty minutes
was very even but Whyteleafe took the lead on 22 minutes when a long ball
over the Epsom & Ewell defence saw Nial Lee seem have lots of time to
deal with the ball unfortunately his boot got caught on the pitch twisting
his leg forcing him to crumple to the ground, the Whyteleafe player following
in took the loose ball around Lee before slotting the ball home off the far
upright from 10 yards out - Lee eventually limping off the pitch after a
number of minutes treatment with a mixture of cartilage damage and a slightly
twisted knee and ankle.

Whyteleafe extended the
lead on 43 minutes, the ball being played through the middle with the E's
defence not picking up any of the passes, the ball eventually ending up in
the E's penalty area for the ball to be slotted home past Mark Cowhig from 8
yards out.

The second half saw
Epsom & Ewell come out looking totally different as the control of the
match swung to Epsom & Ewell to play moves down the wings and stop 'leafe
playing altogether. Rob Lynch nearly pulled a goal back in the first two
minutes of the half when his dipping 20 yard shot found the underside of the
crossbar before bouncing off the goal line and back into the centre of the
box much to the amazement of all of the players who had all started making
their way out of the box assuming the ball had gone for a goal kick, Phillip
N'gbale being first to the ball was only able to screw the ball into the side
netting.

Epsom & Ewell were
awarded a penalty on 60 minutes for any one of three incidents where Phillip
N'gbale and then Sam Carter were felled in the box with tackles from behind
and a John Oppong-Baah shot was blocked by a defender's hand near the penalty
spot. Elio Escoffery stepping up and hitting the ball high into the right
corner of the net.

The equaliser eventually
occurred on 80 minutes, the ball being played down the left wing into
Oppong-Baah just inside the Whyteleafe half, his bursting run to the edge of
the box saw him having to check his run where his shimmy dummied the defender
allowing him to fire in a powerful shot from the left hand side of the box
that sailed over the 'leafe keeper and into the far corner stanchion.

Epsom & Ewell's
comeback saw them suddenly fade badly allowing Whyteleafe into the Epsom
&v Ewell half, Whyteleafe eventually having a move down the left wing,
the ball being threaded into the E's box before being curled home into the
far corner of the net on 87 minutes from 12 yards out. The reverse fixture is
next Wednesday at Merland Rise when the E's will be looking to revenge this
result against the 'leafe.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-4 Whyteleafe

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
9th February 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell lost
to Whyteleafe for the second time in a week but the 4-2 scoreline is not a
true reflection of the game.

Liam Oxley saw his shot
come off the crossbar, John Oppong-Baah's one on one saw the Whyteleafe
keeper palm the ball around the post and a Ryan Butt shot from the edge of
the area was parried over the crossbar by the Whyteleafe keeper all within
the first quarter of an hour.

Whyteleafe took the lead
on 18 minutes with their only attack of the first half, the long forward ball
bouncing in between the Epsom defence and the keeper Mark Cowhig, the leafe
striker coming in to head the ball over the advancing Mark Cowhig on the edge
of the Epsom & Ewell box.

Epsom & Ewell
continued to pile on the pressure on Whyteleafe, but the lead remained at
half-time. Epsom & Ewell won a number of set pieces in the opening stages
of the second half around the 'leafe area but it was Whyteleafe that extended
the lead on 68 minutes, the ball being played behind the E's defence for an
incoming player to slot home past Mar Cowhig from 10 yards out.

Epsom & Ewell got a
goal back on 72 minutes when a ball down the left wing saw John Oppong-Baah's
overhead kick from the left hand side of the Whyteleafe box bounce past Liam
Oxley into the path of Ryan Butt coming in with a shot into the back from 8
yards out.

A run down the right
wing by a Whyteleafe player on 77 minutes saw him cut into the box with ease
and fire the ball into the far corner of the net. Epsom & Ewell got a
goal back in the fourth minute of injury time when a Mark Cowhig goal kick
saw the ball bounce over the Whyteleafe defenders allowing Liam Oxley and
John Oppong-Baah to run at the Whyteleafe goal, the 'leafe keeper stopping
Oxley's shot but Oppong-Baah chipped the loose ball over the keeper into the
empty net.

Whyteleafe scored their
fourth in the eighth minute of injury time, an Epsom & Ewell attack with
most of the team in the 'leafe half saw the ball volleyed clear, Mark Cowhig
being forced to come 30 yards out of goal to get to the ball but the Whyteleafe
player managed to get a touch to the ball to nick it past Cowhig and dribble
it home from 25 yards out.

Croydon
Athletic 2-1 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
16th February 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth team without a number of influential players who had been called up to
the reserves to cover for injuries went down 2-1 at Croydon Athletic.

Croydon Athletic opened
the scoring in the 56th minute and extended the lead on 59 minutes. Epsom
& Ewell pulled a goal back on 66 minutes when Elio Escoffery was sent
away down the left wing, his pull back finding two unmarked Epsom & Ewell
players arriving at the back post, John Oppong-Baah leaving the ball for
Phillip N'gbale to steer the ball home.

Lewisham
Borough 0-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
16th March 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

Amazingly, this was the
Youth team’s first league win since September 7th when they beat Wednesday’s
opponents 4-0 at Merland Rise, but they were pushed all the way by a spirited
Lewisham side, still struggling at the foot of the table, and with only 2 points
all season.

On a small ‘athletic
stadium’ pitch at Catford, they took the lead after 18 minutes, the home side
failed to clear Elio Escoffery’s low free-kick, the ball falling loose to
Ryan Butt, who followed up to score.

We nearly added another
when Robbie Lynch’s side-foot from John Oppong-Baah’s pass was pushed round
by the Lewisham ‘keeper, and near to the break, John Oppong-Baah snatched at
one chance and screwed his shot wide.

We were forced into an
early change after the break, Mark Cowhig, who had struggled in the latter
part of the first half with a back problem, came off to be replaced by Tim
Farrington, who was making his debut since joining from Chipstead.

Farrington was soon
called into action, a long clearance saw him smartly off his line to narrow
Hou-Fung’s angle, his shot was wide,  and we added another after 77
minutes, Billy Georgiou knocked the ball through for Robbie Lynch to sweep
the ball past Bailey.

Lewisham had Hou-Fung
booked for a foul on Mark Solomon, a vicious low cross from Sam Carter
flashed across the goalmouth without anyone getting the vital touch and
Lewisham nearly conceded a disastrous own-goal near the finish, a late call
from the ‘keeper saw him stranded as Tyrone Sterling’s back-header just
rolled past the post.

A good team performance,
the back-four of  James, Georgiou, Waro and Solomon looked a very solid
unit, impossible to pick anyone out, a pig of a journey made
worthwhile!!

Mark Cowhig (Tim
Farrington 56 mins), Michael James, Billy Georgiou, Robbie Lynch, Jonathan
Waro, Mark Solomon, Nial Lee, Ryan Butt, Elio Escoffery (Eris Markaj 85
mins),  John Oppong-Baah (Sam Carter 69 mins), Philip N’gbale.

Lewisham
Borough 0-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
16th March 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell won
2-0 at Lewisham Borough, Ryan Butt opening the scoring on 18 minutes and Rob
Lynch scoring the second in 77th minute.

Chipstead
0-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
31st March 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

The second consecutive
win for the Youth side at Chipstead, and another excellent team performance.

Already assured of not
having to apply for re-election at the end of the season by finishing bottom
of the table, we started well, the Chipstead ‘keeper was forced into a good
save from a header from one of his own defenders, and from Sam Carter’s
pull-back, Liam Oxley saw his shot saved.

We took the lead after
13 minutes, Philip N’gbale’s through ball picking out Sam Carter, his first
shot was blocked by the ‘keeper, but he followed up to pick up the rebound
and score.  A corner from Philip
N’gbale hit a Chipstead defender and flew over the bar but it needed a fine
save from ‘keeper Mark Cowhig to ensure our half-time lead.

The second half saw Sam
Carter’s shot blocked, and his effort from the rebound was just wide, Liam
Oxley flashed an effort from Carter’s cross just over the bar, Marc Muino’s
cross was headed over by a defender before we went further ahead on the hour,
a Mark Solomon throw found N’gbale, he tricked his way past a defender on the
bye-line, the Chipstead ‘keeper pushed out his cross, but Sam Carter followed
up to score his second.

It needed a superb save
from Mark Cowhig, reminiscent of that Gordon Banks save in the World Cup all
those years ago, when he clawed out a close range Kofi Quarty header at the
foot of the post to prevent the home side reducing the arrears but we finished
strongly, the Chipstead ‘keeper saved well from Oxley and N’gbale and John
Oppong-Baah (on for Carter), flicked a header from Muino’s cross wide and in
the last minute a thunderous drive from Liam Oxley was pushed on to the bar
by the Chipstead ‘keeper, who in all truth, probably knew little about it.

Team:  Mark Cowhig, Tom Larkin, Jonathan Waro
(Nial Lee 73 mins), Robbie Lynch, Mark Solomon, Billy Georgiou, Philip
N’gbale (Michael James 82 mins), Ryan Butt, Liam Oxley, Marc Muino, Sam
Carter (John Oppong-Baah 65 mins).
Other subs: Serdal Goksal, Tim Farrington (not used).

Chipstead
0-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
31st March 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth win back to back
matches

Epsom & Ewell beat
Chipstead 2-0 at their High Road ground to reverse the scoreline between the
two teams in January at Merland Rise.

Epsom & Ewell
started strongly and took the lead on 12 minutes, Phillip N'gbale moving into
the middle of the pitch from his position on the left wing, managing to flick
the ball away from a Chipstead midfielder, he controlled the ball before
volleying the ball down the middle of the pitch, Sam Carter playing up front
running on to collect the ball, the Chipstead keeper managing to get glove on
the ball but the ball bounced back to Carter to round the keeper and roll the
ball into the empty net from 8 yards out.

Epsom & Ewell could
have extended the lead further in the first half except for poor finishing
and Chipstead managing to defend in numbers.

Epsom & Ewell
created a couple of chances at the start of the second half through Liam
Oxley and Phillip N'gbale that required Chipstead to defend deeply once
again, but Epsom & Ewell did eventually get a break through on 59
minutes, the ball being spread down the left wing for Phillip N'gbale to beat
a defender and whip in a cross that saw the Chipstead keeper fumble in the
wet conditions, Marc Muino was on hand to pick up the loose ball and turn a
defender on the edge of the six yard box before finding the corner of the
net.

Sam Carter was replaced
by John Oppong-Baah mid-way through the second half and Oppong-Baah nearly
added a third on 73 minutes when a long Mark Cowhig goal kick saw John
Oppong-Baah judge the bounce of the ball to fire a first time volley on
target from 25 yards out requiring the Chipstead keeper to dive to his right
and manage to parry the ball just wide of the far post.

Epsom & Ewell keeper
Mark Cowhig pulled off a string of saves, on 75 & 77 minutes he managed
to make vital saves on his goal line from shots from corners and his finest
save of the night occurred on 81 minutes when a deep Chipstead cross found a Chipstead
player unmarked to head the ball downwards 7 yards out, the Chipstead team
were already celebrating but Cowhig stuck out his right hand to make a save
and the ball somehow stuck fast to his glove.

Liam Oxley was denied
Epsom & Ewell's third in injury with what would have been a deserved goal
for the striker when his 35 yard shot evaded the Chipstead keeper's reach and
crashed off the underside of the bar and bounce back out for a Chipstead defender
to clear just as John Oppong-Baah was arriving in the Chipstead box.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-5 Lewes

Southern Youth League
Cup Quarter Final

Monday
4th April 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

Defeat in the
Quarter-Final of the League Cup, but the 5-0 scoreline was a very cruel
reflection of our performance, we had the better of the goalless first half
and it was only the latter stages that Lewes, already champions of the
Southern Division, took control.

An early shot from
Philip N’gbale tested the Lewes ‘keeper, a Liam Oxley shot was pushed over
and a fine save by Mark Cowhig from a quickly-taken free-kick kept the scores
level.  Tom Larkin headed an N’gbale
corner just over and from Mark Solomon’s corer, Ryan Butt’s shot was headed
off the line.

The second half saw a
Liam Oxley shot blocked before Lewes went ahead after 57 minutes and they
added a second after 75 minutes.  The
latter stages saw Lewes take control as we pushed up in an effort to get a
goal back, a quick break saw Lewes go 3-0 ahead after 83 minutes, and a
fourth came on the 90 minute mark when Lewes took advantage of a Larkin
error, and they added a fifth in stoppage time.

Team:  Mark Cowhig, Billy Georgiou, Tom Larkin,
Robbie Lynch, Mark Solomon, Jonathan Waro (Elio Escoffery 61 mins), Philip
N’gbale (Ilir Azemi 85 mins), Ryan Butt, Liam Oxley, Sam Carter, Marc Muino
(Michael James 89 mins).  Other subs:
John Oppong-Baah, Nial Lee (not used).

Epsom
& Ewell 0-5 Lewes

Southern Youth League
Cup Quarter Final

Monday
4th April 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth crash out against
Lewes in Quarter-Finals

The final score-line
rather flattered the visitors and was not a true reflection of the
match.

Epsom & Ewell's
Phillip N'gbale had a shot tipped on to the bar in the opening couple of
minutes and Mark Cowhig did well on 27 minutes to get a punch on the ball off
a Lewes cross before being clattered by an incoming Lewes player. Epsom &
Ewell Ryan Butt was denied a goal off a Mark Solomon corner in first half
injury time, the ball being cleared off the line.

Epsom & Ewell
cleared the ball off the line on 47 minutes and straight away a counter
attack saw the ball find Liam Oxley, his shot from 15 yards out being blocked
by the Lewes keeper. Lewes managed to take the lead on 52 minutes when a
through ball saw a volley from the edge of the area evade the dive of Mark
Cowhig and sneak inside the post.

Lewes extended the lead
further on 78 minutes, a free-kick being tipped on to the bar by Mark Cowhig
before bouncing kindly for a Lewes player to tuck away the ball. Epsom &
Ewell pushing up trying to reduce the arrears managed to allow a long ball by
Lewes to find a midfielder on the right side of the pitch on 84 minutes, he
managed to cut in and fire the ball into the corner of the net from 12 yards
out.

A mix-up in the Epsom
& Ewell area saw the ball in the second minute of injury time to fall
kindly to a Lewes player to loop a header over Mark Cowhig.

Lewes managed to score
their fifth in the eighth minute of injury time, a long through ball seeing
their player get to the ball just ahead of Mark Cowhig before taking the ball
round the E's keeper and slot the ball home from 8 yards out.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-6 Carshalton Athletic

Southern Youth League

Friday
29th April 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The Southern Youth
League North Division title was decided on Friday night with simultaneous
matches going on at Merland Rise with Epsom & Ewell against Carshalton
Athletic and at Longmead Stadium where Tonbridge Angels were hosting Dulwich
Hamlet, both away sides were in the hunt for the title.

Epsom & Ewell with 5
regulars missing due to call up fell behind on 10 minutes with a sweeping
move down the right wing that saw the ball floated to the six yard box for an
easy tap in. Epsom & Ewell equalised on 20 minutes when a scuffed Ryan Butt
shot found Russell Williams 12 yards out, his shot finding the top corner of
the net.

Carshalton more or less
ensured the win with two goals in the space of 50 seconds in the closing
minutes of the first half, and they completed the 6-1 win with goals after
72, 73 and 88 minutes. Carshalton's delight turned quickly into a downbeat
mood when they found out that Dulwich Hamlet won 3-1 and picked up the league
title.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-7 Tonbridge Angels

Southern Youth League

Thursday
5th May 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth team finished the season on the end of a 7-0 defeat at home to
Tonbridge Angels with the Epsom & Ewell side and in particular the
defence being found wanting as Tonbridge ran riot.

Tonbridge opened the
scoring on 11 minutes with a free header from 8 yards out, then doubled it
within 50 seconds with a volley on the edge of the area over the stand-in
keeper Liam Lockwood. A mix up on the edge of the Epsom & Ewell area saw
Liam Lockwood and Mark Solomon go for the same ball and collide allowing the
Tonbridge player following up to walk the ball into the net and it was four
on 32 minutes when the ball down the right wing saw a deep cross find one of
two unmarked Tonbridge players with the whole of the box to themselves to
volley home past Lockwood from 8 yards out.

Epsom & Ewell's
defence careless gave the ball away on the edge of the box, Liam Lockwood
blocked the first attempt but the second time the ball was chipped over
Lockwood into the corner of the net.

Tonbridge made it six on
77 minutes when a ball straight down the middle of the pitch saw Liam
Lockwood misjudge the bounce of the ball allowing the ball to go through his
gloves and allow the Tonbridge player to walk the ball into the net from 12
yards out and the seventh occurred on 86 minutes with a ball straight down
the middle of the pitch again, the Tonbridge player controlling the ball with
his chest then managing to flick it wide of Liam Lockwood's dive before
rolling the ball home from 10 yards out.

2005/06 Season

Pre-Season Round Up

Friendly

August
2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

On Tuesday 9th August
the Youth team commenced their pre-season friendlies with a 3-1 defeat
against Chipstead at Rickman Hill.

The Youth team had two
games in the last week, on Tuesday 16th August they beat South Park at
picturesque Nutfield 4-2. One down at half time from a penalty and we went
further behind after 58 minutes. We pulled a goal back on the hour through
Matt Lewis and South Park were shaken by a burst of 3 goals inside 3 minutes
from Bryan Harrison (2) and Ben Radford.

The following evening
the Youth team were again in action, but narrowly went down 0-1 to Carshalton
Athletic, Bryan Harrison had a first-half penalty saved.

Pre-Season
Round Up

Friendly

August
2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Tuesday 09th August 2005

Youth have promising
start despite defeat

Epsom & Ewell's
youth team were defeated 3-1 by Chipstead this evening despite having more of
the possession in the match.

Epsom & Ewell had a
number of players unavailable meaning a number of players were played out of
position and manager Steve Butt was forced into using the substitute
goalkeeper to play as a midfielder for the final 70 minutes after an injury
on 20 minutes.

Chipstead opened the
scoring on 38 minutes when the left back was allowed to go on a darting run
before finishing with a low shot past Mark Cowhig. Sam Carter equalised on 67
minutes when the ball fell kindly for him after it had hit a Chipstead
defender, Carter finding the roof of the net from 8 yards out.

Chipstead managed to
scramble the ball home on 71 and 75 minutes after Epsom failed to clear the
ball out of the box. Most of the Epsom players were playing their first match
at this level but there were still plenty of promising signs evident in the
play.

Tuesday 16th August 2005

Youth overturn deficit

Epsom & Ewell Youth
overturned a 2-0 deficit to win away to South Park 4-2 in picturesque
Nutfield.

Epsom & Ewell were
the ones during the first half that were creating all the chances but found
it hard to get the ball into the net and against the run of play on 33
minutes, South Park managed to get a penalty when a rash challenge by Daniel
Davies saw him take a South Park attacker's ankles in the Epsom box, the
penalty being hit hard and low past Mark Cowhig.

Seth Adu managed to sky
an opportunity in the last minute of the half from 6 yards out which would
have brought the scores level. Although Epsom & Ewell were having the
majority of the possession and still creating chance after chance in the home
side's box the ball still would not find the back of the net.

Epsom & Ewell's
defence were guilty of playing around with the ball just inside their own box
on 58 minutes, a pass between defenders seeing a South Park attacker get a
foot to the ball to divert it past Mark Cowhig from 15 yards out.

Epsom & Ewell
finally did find the back of the net on 60 minutes when Mark Styles' corner
kick found Matt Lewis who managed to bundle it home at the far post. Epsom
& Ewell got the equaliser on 65 minutes, Daniel Davies' diagonal ball
into the path of Bryan Harrison seeing him wait for the ball to bounce and
sit up for him before side footing it home past the keeper from 8 yards
out.

South Park's restart saw
Julian Van Gelder immediately dispose a home player and thrust the ball
forward, a South Park defender sliced his attempted clearance straight into
the air, Bryan Harrison flicking the ball into Ben Radford's path who curled
the ball into the far corner of the net from 12 yards out.

Epsom & Ewell had
regained possession of the ball once again within seconds of the South Park
re-start, the ball being played down the right wing into Ben Radford, his
lay-off finding Bryan Harrison hitting a first time shot from just inside the
box that curled into the top corner of the net clipping the underside of the
bar of the way.

Epsom & Ewell had a
penalty waved away even though it was identical to the one awarded in the
first half on 73 minutes when Aaron Lumley had his ankles taken away inside
the South Park area.

Wednesday 17th August
2005

Carshalton edge youth
friendly

Epsom & Ewell youth
playing for the second time inside 24 hours saw Carshalton edge an end to end
friendly.

Carshalton who won on
the same pitch less than 13 weeks before quite handsomely were not going to
see a similar winning margin this time round.

Epsom & Ewell were
once again guilty of not being able to fire the ball on target despite
getting the ball into the danger area.

Epsom & Ewell had
the first notable incident of the match a minute before the break when a foul
on an Epsom & Ewell player saw the referee point to the penalty spot,
Bryan Harrison seeing the keeper guess the correct way to block the penalty.

Carshalton grabbed the
winning goal on 69 minutes after a good build up, the ball sitting up nicely
to be finished into the bottom corner from 10 yards out.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-0 Kingstonian

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
31st August 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth opened their league campaign up with an entertaining goal less draw at
home to Kingstonian.

The highlights for both
sides were Kingstonian hitting the post within the opening 30 seconds and mid
way through the second half Epsom & Ewell's Sam Carter finding the ball
hit his chest in front of goal before deflecting wide off the K's keeper.

Apart from these two
chances both sides defended very well against the others attacks. The two
sides meet again on three weeks time at Dorking in the Westview Youth Cup on
21st September.

Godalming
Town 3-1 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
7th September 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

The Youth team went down
3-1 at Godalming Town in a Southern Youth League fixture, Matt Lewis was
Epsom’s scorer.

Godalming
Town 3-1 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
7th September 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The youth team were also
in action this evening losing 3-1 at Godalming Town - Matt Lewis being Epsom
& Ewell's scorer

Staines
Town 2-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
14th September 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

A very good point for
the Youth side at Staines, coming from two goals down, they more than matched
the home side in effort and commitment.

Youth team skipper Sam
Carter was missing through injury and Staines started the livelier, an
overhead kick from Porovic bouncing off the top of the bar after Kiffin had
flicked on a Thomas throw and they went ahead after 10 minutes, Vincent
spread the ball wide to Ventour, his low cross saw our defence possibly
distracted by Tim Windsor’s air shot, leaving Kiffin to fire low past Mark
Cowhig.

Staines ‘keeper Chiweshe
saved a shot from Ben Radford, but Staines went further ahead after 22
minutes, Kiffin’s deep cross from the left was headed home by Blake at the
far post.

We bounced straight
back, determined work by Julian Van Gelder on the left, culminated in a cross
which Gurney headed away from Seth Adu, and we pulled a goal back on 27
minutes, Ben Radford picking up the ball on the right and the home defence
had no answer to his sudden burst of speed into the box and a fierce shot
past Chiweshe.

Two minutes later, we
were back on level terms, Radford again picking up a loose ball, going past a
defender and scoring with a delicate chip over keeper and defenders.

Ivan Dos Santos was
inches away with a 30-yarder that just curled away and Mark Cowhig pulled off
a fine save, blocking Ventour’a shot on the edge of the six yard box.

The final five minutes
of the half saw Staines pressing strongly, but finding Mark Cowhig in superb
form, first with a save from a Thomas flick and he recovered after dropping
Draper’s corner to smother Blake’s shot, and then blocking Vincent’s shot
with his legs.

The second half followed
much the same pattern, Staines creating, and squandering, the better chances,
but we nearly took the lead when Bryan Harrison’s free-kick saw the Staines
defence fail to spot Seth Adu’s early run, but his header was inches over the
bar.

Staines had Draper
booked for a foul on Bryan Harrison, but it was again Staines who mised a
good chance, Heggie scuffing his first effort from Kiffin’s cross, and
then  screwing his second effort wide.

Cowhig blocked Draper’s
shot and we thought we had grabbed the winner nine minutes from time, Matt
Lewis heading in Julian Van Gelder’s free-kick, but the referee’s assistant
had his flag raised for offside, and the goal was disallowed.

Team: Mark Cowhig, Ivan
Dos Santos, Daniel Davies, George Carlin, Mark Styles, Julian Van Gelder,
Patrick Baah (Steve Goodwin 45 mins), Bryan Harrison (Alwyn Dixon 88 mins),
Matt Lewis, Ben Radford, Seth Adu (Aaron Lumley 77 mins).

Staines
Town 2-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
14th September 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell Youth
gained an unexpected point away at Wheatsheaf Lane against the Staines Town
Youth Academy.

Staines Town opened the
scoring on 14 minutes when the Epsom & Ewell defence failed to clear the
ball from inside the box, the Staines striker placing the ball past Mark
Cowhig from 10 yards out and the lead was extended on 22 minutes when a
corner found the Staines left-back rising at the back post to power a
downward header home.

The Staines left-back
was found out of position on 26 minutes allowing Ben Radford to collect a
flick on before firing a first time volley home into the far corner of the
net from 20 yards out. Parity was restored on 28 minutes when Radford was in
the correct position to be able to get his foot to the ball some 15 yards out
that had been hoisted into the edge of the box from the Epsom & Ewell
midfield allowing him to lift the ball over the Staines keeper and just under
the bar.

Bryan Harrison found
himself not challenged on a free-kick on 52 minutes, his header from 8 yards
out floating over the Staines keeper and clipping the top of the bar. Epsom
midfielder Matt Lewis did manage to get the ball into the net on 86 minutes
with a header but the assistant linesman was on hand to prevent Staines from
losing all three points.

Epsom & Ewell keeper
Mark Cowhig was the outstanding player for Epsom & Ewell managing to
somehow on 38 minutes turn a point blank volley from 6 yards out around the
post with the Staines faithful already celebrating, he produced a one handed
dive to his left on 68 minutes to deflect the ball away for a corner and was
required to come off his line quickly to block a shot in a one on one in the
final minutes of the match - it would not be surprising if he was competing
with Alex Moore and Dave Copeman for the first team keeper jersey by the end
of this season.

The whole team should be
congratulated on their performance and the effort that each and every player
put in tonight.

Kingstonian
1-3 Epsom & Ewell (played at Meadowbank, Dorking F.C.)

Westview Isthmian Youth
Cup First Round

Wednesday
21st September 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

An impressive victory
for the Youth side at Dorking on Wednesday, again we had to come from a goal
down.

On a bumpy and generally
scruffy pitch we were slow out of the blocks and after Kingstonian took a
first half-lead, we equalised after 53 minutes when Julian Van Gelder’s
corner was knocked in by Seth Adu.

We were ahead two
minutes later when Ben Radford picked up a loose ball midway in the
Kingstonian half and  his shot from
outside the box completely deceived the K’s ‘keeper who got a hand to the
ball at the foot of a post but couldn’t stop it going in.

The third goal came
after 83 minutes, Ralph Petang’s ball into the box picked out Sam Carter who
scored with a left foot shot.

In the 2nd Round the
Youth team will be at home to Worthing (date to be announced).

Team: Mark Cowhig, Ivan
Dos Santos, Daniel Davies, George Carlin, Mark Styles, Julian Van Gelder, Sam
Carter, Bryan Harrison (Aaron Lumley 86 mins), Matt Lewis, Ben Radford
(Patrick Baah 79 mins), Seth Adu (Ralph Petang 55 mins).

Other sub: Alwyn Dixon
(not used).

Kingstonian
1-3 Epsom & Ewell (played at Meadowbank, Dorking F.C.)

Westview Youth Cup First
Round

Wednesday
21st September 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell fought
back from a goal deficit at half-time to defeat Kingstonian 3-1 at a muddy
& cold Meadowbank this evening.

Kingstonian took the
lead on 38 minutes when the ball bounced between the two central E's
defenders allowing the K's striker to lift the ball over Epsom keeper Mark
Cowhig who had come off his line anticipating a header back.

Sam Carter's corner on
53 minutes saw Seth Adu glide in at the back post unmarked to shin the ball
into the net from 6 yards out. Ben Radford on 55 minutes had great
persistence as he rode at least four challenges on his way to the edge of the
box before scuffing a shot which K's keeper Paul Brady took his eyes off as
he allowed the ball to bobble through his gloves and over the line.

Sam Carter ensured the
E's progressed to a home second round match next month against Worthing on 83
minutes when he took advantage of bad K's defending as they failed to clear
the ball properly in their box allowing Carter to get a shot in from 12 yards
out that deceived Brady who was caught on the wrong side of his goal.

Kingstonian still had
time to see a header come off the underside of the bar but Epsom & Ewell
keeper Mark Cowhig was quick to react to clutch the ball in its downward
movement before it could cross the line.

Dulwich
Hamlet 6-1 Epsom & Ewell

F.A.Youth Cup First
Qualifying Round

Wednesday
28th September 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

A disappointing result
following the impressive Westview Cup win over Kingstonian the previous week.

We had the first chance,
a George Carlin free-kick on the half-way line was headed on by Sam Carter
and Mark Styles saw his header saved, and from this stage we never really got
to grips with the home sides lightning quick breaks.

Eight minutes gone, a
quick break into the area and Mark Cowhig brought down Pinnock, who picked
himself up to score from the spot.

Two minutes later
Atkinson picked up a through ball to add the second, and although we bounced
back strongly with a run of five corners, chances were few and far between,
Matt Lewis steered a near-post chance from Bryan Harrison’s ball wide on 17
minutes, but Dulwich nearly added a third when Pinnock hooked his shot
straight at Cowhig.

A free-kick from Ivan
Dos Santos was charged down by the defensive wall, but Dulwich added a third
when Pinnock’s run across the box, saw him sidestep a defender, and although
Cowhig parried his shot, Fuller popped up to slot home the rebound.

Bryan Harrison had two
shots blocked just before the break, and early in the second half, Sam
Carter’s firm header was cleared but Pinnock added the fourth after 51
minutes, ramming in Fuller’s ball from the left.

A long ball up to Ralph
Petang saw him quickly closed down by three defenders and although Dulwich
had their ‘keeper stretchered off after a completely accidental collision
they added a fifth after 66 minutes after Cowhig appeared to take his eye off
a free-kick, the ball rebounding off his body for Pinnock to score.

We did pull a goal back
two minutes later, Matt Lewis steering his header from a Daniel Davies
free-kick wide of the substitute ‘keeper.

Pinnock put Dulwich
further ahead after 83 minutes with a header that Cowhig could only help in
and Petang laid on a late chance for Aaron Lumley, but his shot was well
wide.

Mark Cowhig, Ivan Dos
Santos, Julian Van Gelder, Daniel Davies, George Carlin., Mark Styles, Ben
Radford, Matt Lewis, Bryan Harrison, Sam Carter, Ralph Petang.

Subs: Patrick Baah for
Carlin 69 mins, Alwyn Dixon for Harrison 78 mins, Aaron Lumley for Radford 81
mins.

Dulwich
Hamlet 6-1 Epsom & Ewell

F.A.Youth Cup First
Qualifying Round

Wednesday
28th September 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The Youth team were
knocked out of the FA Youth Cup in the 1st Qualifying Round by a more
stronger and physical Dulwich Hamlet side.

Hamlet were 3-0 up at
half time and went on to win 6-1 - the difference was apparently the London
side were quicker on the break and made this count.

Horsham
1-3 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League
Cup Second Round

Wednesday
5th October 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

The Youth team have
progressed to the 2nd Round of the Southern Youth League Cup with a 3-1 win at
Horsham.  Mark Styles put us ahead from
some 25 yards with a scorcher into the top corner and Patrick Baah made it
2-0 after 63 minutes with another screamer. Poor defending saw Horsham pull a
goal back three minutes later, but Ben Radford made it safe after 73 minutes.
Our opponents in the last 16 are not yet known.

Horsham
1-3 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League
Cup Second Round

Wednesday
5th October 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell youth
progressed to the third round of the Southern Youth League with a 3-1 away
win at Horsham in the Second Round.

Epsom & Ewell took
the lead on 18 minutes when Matt Styles hit a 25 yard diagonal screamer over
the Horsham keeper into the top corner of the net. Partick Baah the younger
brother of reserve team striker John Oppong-Baah extended the lead against
the run of play on 63 minutes with an almost identical screamer from 25 yards
out to that of Styles' one in the first half.

Horsham notched a goal
back on 67 minutes when the Epsom & Ewell defence were caught asleep
allowing an unmarked Hornet striker to ghost in and push the ball past Mark
Cowhig.

Ben Radford scrambled home
the third Epsom & Ewell goal on 73 minutes after a fluent passing
movement down the right wing.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-1 Bedfont

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
12th October 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

On Wednesday we drew 1-1
in a home Southern Youth League fixture against Bedfont, our point came
courtesy of an injury time goal from Alwyn Dixon.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-1 Bedfont

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
12th October 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's youth
team gained a 1-1 draw at home to Bedfont but will be disappointed that they
failed to put away chance after chance and had to thank Alwyn Dixon's injury
time strike for the point.

Epsom & Ewell were
well on top during the first half where they saw the ball hit the crossbar
once and were their own worst enemy with poor final touches.

Bedfont saw their youth
manager shown a red card on 55 minutes by the referee for persistent talking
to the officials about decisions and the E's shut off allowing an error from
the restart in defence allowing Bedfont to have a three on two break which allowed
them to pass to the spare player to tuck the ball home past Mark Cowhig from
10 yards out.

Alwyn Dixon gained the
point for the E's with a 93rd minute strike when he received the ball inside
the visitors box and fired a low shot from 8 yards out between the near post
and the keeper who failed to cover the post properly.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-1 Mole Valley Predators

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
19th October 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

Mole Valley Predators at
home was the next fixture, we lost 0-1, and that’s about it, a pretty dismal
performance in an equally dire game.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-1 Mole Valley Predators

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
19th October 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The Epsom & Ewell
youth side went down 1-0 at home to Mole Valley Predators - the visitors
scoring the winning goal in the 10th minute when taking advantage of Epsom
& Ewell's defending. The less that is said about the team's performance
the better.

Mole
Valley Predators 2-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
27th October 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

The following week in
the return at Leatherhead, we looked more up for it, a goal down after 10
minutes, we equalised after 55 minutes through Ralph Petang. Various bookings
as the referee struggled to get to grips with a pretty aggressive home side,
and we went ahead after 65 minutes with another well-taken goal from Ralph
Petang, but Mole Valley equalised with five minutes left.

We finished with 10 men
when Daniel Davies was sent off in injury time for two yellow cards.

Mole
Valley Predators 2-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
27th October 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell battle
back but fail to hold on for all three points

Just 8 days after the
league meeting between the teams in the league at Merland Rise the reverse
fixture at River Lane took place this evening.

Once again like in the
first match Mole Valley Predators took the lead on 10 minutes after the E's
defence allowed their player to run through and score.

Epsom & Ewell drew
level on 55 minutes when Ralph Petang took advantage of a through ball to
score past the Predators keeper and he gave Epsom & Ewell the lead on 64
minutes when he once again ran through and guided the ball home past the
advancing keeper from 25 yards out of goal.

Mole Valley Predators
scored an equaliser on 86 minutes when the Epsom & Ewell defence were
caught trying to play the offside trap allowing the home player to score low
past Mark Cowhig from 8 yards out.

Both sides could have
seen a number of players see red as the referee failed to control the two
teams but he only produced one in the fifth minute of injury time when Epsom
& Ewell's Daniel Davies was shown a second red card for a late challenge.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-2 Ashford Town (Middx)

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
9th November 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Ashford Town (Middx)
youth took all three points away from Merland Rise with a 2-1 win against
Epsom & Ewell Youth.

Ralph Petang had a
chance in the first two minutes to put the E's ahead but his chip found the
Ashford keeper and Ashford Town took the lead on 5 minutes when a free-kick
from just outside the box saw the ball bounce off an E's defender standing on
the line allowing the ball to be smashed home from 4 yards out.

The final minutes of the
first half and the start of the second half saw Ashford lose their composure
but they increased the lead on 68 minutes when the ball was floated into the
Epsom box, indecision by the defence in trying to clear the ball saw an Ashford
player manage to steer the ball past Mark Cowhig.

Substitute Seth Adu
managed to set up a grandstand finish on 84 minutes, 15 yards out he managed
to connect on the turn with a Bryan Harrison cross to send the ball into the
corner of the net past the Ashford keeper.

Epsom & Ewell
pressed the visitors back into their own half for the majority of the
remainder of the game but they had left the start of their comeback too late
as Ashford managed to hold on for all three points.

Epsom
& Ewell 3-3 Cobham

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
16th November 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell youth
throw away three goal lead

Epsom & Ewell youth
were ever so close to picking up their first win in the league this season
but were denied by a penalty awarded five minutes into stoppage time.

Epsom & Ewell took
the lead on 13 minutes when Ben Radford scrambled the ball home from close
range, Seth Adu managed to latch on to a through ball and put the ball
through the Cobham keeper's legs on the edge of the area to allow it to roll
into the net after 33 minutes.

Mark Styles added the
third on 53 minutes when he picked up a pass back from Ben Radford and struck
the ball sweetly from 25 yards out low inside the near post. Cobham gained a
goal back on 57 minutes when the free-kick went through the wall leaving Mark
Cowhig unsighted,

Cobham reduced the lead
further on 70 minutes when they bundled the ball home off a corner. The
referee awarded a penalty in stoppage time, Epsom & Ewell had cleared the
Cobham corner to the edge of the box, the volley back in was going through a
crowd of players, the referee picked out that an Epsom & Ewell hand had
touched the ball and pointed to the spot which was converted despite the
numerous protests by the E's.

Croydon
1-3 Epsom & Ewell

Surrey Midweek Floodlit
Cup Second Round

Monday
28th November 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth came back from Croydon Arena with a 3-1 second round win against
Croydon in the Surrey Midweek Floodlight Invitational Cup.

The kick-off was delayed
by quarter of an hour due to the Epsom side being stuck in severe traffic
jams between the two teams grounds, and Croydon took the lead midway through
the first half but Bryan Harrison equalised within a minute and Ben Radford
then added two further goals before half-time.

Epsom & Ewell eased
to victory in the second half with some attractive passing football but they
could not add to the score line. In the Quarter-Finals, Epsom & Ewell
will be at home to either Farnham Town or Chertsey Town.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-2 Worthing

Westview Isthmian Youth
Cup First Round

Monday
5th December 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell youth
lost 2-1 to exit from the Westview Youth Cup 2nd Round at the hands of a very
good Worthing side that made it through to the second round of the FA Youth
Cup going out to Brentford, as well as taking the Sussex Youth Cup by storm where
they racked up double figure victories in the first two rounds.

Epsom & Ewell put
pressure on the visitors in the first half and created chances but were
unable to convert them, Worthing taking the lead on 33 minutes when a
free-kick found a Worthing header into the net at the back post.

Ben Radford was in the
right place to guide the ball home from 8 yards out off a Daniel Davies
free-kick on 78 minutes and Worthing grabbed the winner on 80 minutes when a
corner to the back post as the Worthing player unmarked to head home.

Colliers
Wood United 3-1 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
15th December 2005

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth let another three points slip away at Colliers Wood United.

The first half was open
until the final five minutes when the defence were sloppy on two occasions
allowing one on ones but Mark Cowhig both times came to the rescue to make
saves at the feet of the attackers.

Epsom & Ewell took
the lead on 47 minutes when Julian Van Gelder hit a curling free-kick from 25
yards out that crept inside the post. Up to this point Epsom & Ewell had
been positive and were looking for goals but like in previous matches in the
past month when the team have taken a lead the negative attitude of the team
rapidly crept in trying to defend a one goal lead and ignoring the advice
being given by Steve Butt and Derek Rogers.

Seth Adu should have
doubled the lead when he picked up a Julian van Gelder pass but his shot was
wide on 68 minutes, Colliers Wood on the very next attack down the field saw
the ball take a ricochet off Alfred Akiotu, none of the other Epsom &
Ewell defenders moved trying to pick up the loose ball allowing the Colliers
Wood player to gain control of the ball and volley it past Mark Cowhig.

Colliers Wood took the
lead on 79 minutes, the corner finding a home player at the back post to head
the ball back across the box, Epsom & Ewell players were caught ball
watching as the ball was brought down, controlled and then passed on to the
Colliers Wood player's more favoured foot before firing the ball home from 8
yards out - not a single Epsom player moved towards the ball to try to close
him down.

Epsom & Ewell were
denied a legal equaliser by the referee on 83 minutes that the home bench
were asking to be given, the corner seeing the Colliers Wood keeper come out
of goal and misjudge the flight of the ball as it sailed over him, Seth Adu
sticking the ball into the net from 6 yards out but the referee making a
judgement from outside of the area that the keeper was impeded where in fact
he collided with his own defender.

Epsom & Ewell gave
away an even clumsier penalty on 86 minutes than the one at Three Bridges on
Tuesday night, the Colliers Wood player was going nowhere when Daniel Davies
went through him from behind; the penalty was calmly slotted home past Mark Cowhig.
The referee played seven minutes of injury time by which time the score could
have been at least 6-1.

Horsham
YMCA 0-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League
Cup Third Round

Thursday
5th January 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

Epsom and Ewell turned
the formbook upside down at Goring Mead, the win puts them in the
quarterfinal, but amazingly they are still seeking their first league win of
the season.

YMCA were third in the
South Division, having dropped just one point in their seven games, Epsom are
still rooted to the bottom of the East Division, with five draws and four
defeats from their nine games.

Epsom had knocked out
neighbouring Horsham at Queen Street in the second round, and YMCA were
unfortunate to lose Williams after just five minutes, when he was carried off
with a twisted knee. Seth Adu was just wide with one effort, and we went
ahead after 10 minutes, a Mark Styles corner saw Matt Lewis score from close
range.

YMCA missed a good
chance to equalise before we added a second int he final minute of the first
half, a long clearance from Mark Cowhig found centre-half Findlay struggling,
Daniel Davies nipping in to reach the ball just before the ‘keeper, and chip
the ball past him into the open net.

The second half saw Mark
Cowhig save well from Tarrant’s shot which took an awkward bounce, and
although the home side created some good chances, their shooting was the
thing that let them down.

We nearly added a third
just before the end when Seth Adu and Ben Radford combined well on the left,
Radford crossing for Aaron Lumley, but he put the ball over from close range.

Micahel Faulkner came on
for his debut after joining from Colliers Wood United, replacing Seth Adu for
the last couple of minutes, and he nearly scored with his first touch, but
his shot was inches wide.

Mark Cowhig, Ivan Dos
Santos (Patrick Baah 64 mins), Julian Van Gelder, Alfred Akiotu, George
Carlin, Bryan Harrison, Mark Styles (Aaron Lumley 74 mins), Matt Lewis, Seth
Adu (Michael Faulkner 88 mins), Daniel Davies, Ben Radford

Other subs: Alwyn Dixon,
Tim Farrington (not used).

Horsham
YMCA 0-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League
Cup Third Round

Thursday
5th January 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell Youth
booked a quarter-final place in the Southern Youth League Cup with a 2-0
third round win at Horsham YMCA completing a Horsham double after defeating
Horsham in the previous round.

Daniel Davies' corner
was scrambled home by Matt Lewis after 9 minutes and Daniel Davies was first
to a mishit back pass by the Horsham YMCA defence on the stroke of half time
to roll the ball into the empty net under the advancing home keeper from 20
yards out.

Epsom & Ewell
presented Horsham YMCA with chances in the second half but wayward shooting
and Epsom & Ewell keeper Mark Cowhig making comfortable saves kept the
margin intact, Aaron Lumley blazed over from 8 yards out off a Julian Van
Gelder cut back on 85 minutes and new signing from Colliers Wood United
Michael Faulkner nearly made an instant impact with his first touch in an
Epsom shirt when he picked up a Ben Radford flick on to hit a 20 yard shot
that brushed the upright on 88 minutes.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-2 Godalming Town

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
11th January 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth team's league curse continued tonight at home to Godalming Town who won
2-1.

Ben Radford nearly put
Epsom & Ewell ahead on 6 minutes when he picked up a through pass and
lifted the ball over the advancing keeper, he tried to tap the ball home from
an acute angle 2 yards out but he put his effort into the post and side
netting.

Godalming Town took the
lead on 22 minutes against the run of play and on their first attack into the
Epsom box when a cross from the left wing saw the ball headed home just
inside the far post from 8 yards out. Matt Lewis' header from a corner on 29
minutes saw Epsom & Ewell players claiming the ball had crossed the line
before the Godalming keeper was able to claw it out but the referee ruled
that the whole ball had not crossed the line.

Epsom & Ewell
equalised on 38 minutes when Seth Adu picked up a pass down the right wing
before cutting in and drilling a pass across the six yard box for the
unmarked Daniel Davies standing on the far post to tap home from 4 yards out.

Daniel Davies nearly put
Epsom & Ewell ahead on 44 minutes when he let the ball drop over his
shoulder before hitting the ball on the volley from 25 yards out, the ball
thundering off the underside of the crossbar hitting the goal line and
bouncing clear.

Epsom & Ewell
started the second half the stronger and should have been in front on 56
minutes when Bryan Harrison was first to a Matt Styles pass enabling him to
push the ball past the advancing Godalming keeper towards the empty net
resulting in all the Epsom players starting to celebrate but a divot on the
pitch saw the ball take a horizontal movement and come off the inside the
post, the Godalming keeper realising that the ball had not gone in was the
quickest to react to dive on the ball.

Godalming won the match
on 60 minutes when with their first attack in the second half the ball was
once again swung in from the left wing and the header from 10 yards out went
in off the inside of the far post. Godalming could have added another when a
speculative shot from 20 yards out on 90 minutes came off the underside of
the bar but bounced clear.

Bedfont
1-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
18th January 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell
victorious in bottom of table clash

Epsom & Ewell
managed to close the gap between the E's and tonight’s hosts Bedfont back to
within a point with a vital 2-1 win at The Orchard.

Epsom & Ewell
started sluggishly but found themselves ahead on 37 minutes, Ben Radford's
shot from just inside the box seeing the Bedfont keeper tangle himself up and
help the ball into the net. Epsom & Ewell gave themselves breathing space
when Daniel Davies won a crucial header in the middle of the Bedfont half on
82 minutes, Michael Faulkner picking up the ball managing to lift it over two
defenders on a run into the box, Ben Radford managing to get to the ball
ahead of Faulkner to lift the ball over the advancing keeper from 12 yards
out into the empty net.

Bedfont got a
consolation goal in the fifth minute of injury time, Epsom's defence had
switched off allowing a 25 yard shot to find the far bottom corner of the net
giving no chance of a save from Tim Farrington who had come on at half-time
as replacement for Mark Cowhig who limped out with a hamstring injury.

Epsom
& Ewell 5-0 Cove

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
1st February 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth on fire to blow
away freezing temperatures

Epsom & Ewell
Youth's recent run of good results continued tonight on one of the coldest
nights that any Epsom & Ewell team have ever experienced at Merland Rise
as they beat Cove 5-0.

The pitch side
temperature at kick-off was already -2ºc and by the final whistle the
temperature was -5ºc. Epsom & Ewell took the lead on 23 minutes, Mark
Cowhig's long goal kick finding Ben Radford to cut inside a Cove defender and
attempt to find Daniel Davies with a chip which caught the swirling wind
taking the ball over the Cove keeper on to the inside of the far post and
bounce over the line.

Mark Cowhig made a point
blank in the dying moments of the first half to keep Epsom ahead over the
half-time interval. Cove tried hard to get an equaliser but Epsom & Ewell
managed to increase the lead on 70 minutes, Daniel Davies' flick on finding Seth
Adu to race on to the loose ball and fire low to the keepers right from 12
yards out.

The floodgates then
opened, Ben Radford picking up a Julian Van Gelder pass on the left wing, he
managed to beat two Cove players inside the box before cutting the ball back
from the byline allowing Seth Adu an easy tap in from 5 yards out on 72
minutes.

The fourth came on 74
minutes, Alfred Akiotu with a high lofted clearance from the edge of his own
box, most of the outfield players running towards the Cove goal in a scene
that resembled a punt clearance in NFL, Daniel Davies was first to the ball
after it bounced enabling him to pass the ball past the Cove keeper who had
come racing out of his area into the back of an empty net from 25 yards
out.

Epsom manager Steve Butt
decided to throw all three substitutes on straight after the fourth goal and
the fifth goal on 88 minutes was just the icing on the performance with a
free-kick that David Beckham would have been impressed with, Julian Van
Gelder 30 yards from goal some 10 yards in from the left wing managed to curl
his free-kick over a five man wall and the keeper standing on his line and
clip the underside of the crossbar as it entered the goal.

Substitute keeper Tim
Farrington who had come on for Mark Cowhig in the Epsom goal was forced into
making an acrobatic save in injury time to ensure that the E's kept a clean
sheet.

After the match Steve
Butt said "Tonight was an excellent performance by the whole team, with
a couple more league wins in our remaining fixtures we can finish in a
respectful 5th or 6th in the table which I would settle for.

The squad has had good
cup runs (except in the FA Youth Cup) this season and we have quarter-finals
to look forward to in the not too distant future, I know that they are good
enough to reach the final of at least one of these competitions this season.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-0 Chertsey Town (after extra time - Epsom & Ewell won 5-4
on penalties)

Surrey Midweek Floodlit
Cup Quarter Final

Wednesday
8th February 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth book Semi berth
with nailbitting penalty shoot-out victory

Epsom & Ewell's
Youth progressed to the Surrey under-18 Midweek Floodlight Invitational Cup
semi-final with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory over Chertsey Town at Merland
Rise.

Chertsey Town saw a 20
yard shot on 12 minutes cannon off the crossbar but fall safe for the E's
defence to clear. Ben Radford, Seth Adu and Daniel Davies were all guilty of
missing chances from less than 10 yards out in normal time.

Chertsey saw a header
from 6 yards out drift wide of the post in the first period of extra-time and
Julian Van Gelder's free-kick in the dying seconds of the second period of
extra-time found Daniel Davies with a chip that was just over the top of the
bar from 10 yards out.

Further drama was
provided whilst the referee was collecting the name of the penalty takers
when the floodlights accidentally got switched off by Banstead's bar staff,
the referee asking both sides to go to the dressing rooms whilst the Epsom
officials tried to get the floodlights back on giving a time limit of 20
minutes before the tie would have to be decided on the toss of his coin.

Thankfully the lights
managed to cool down and then come back on again after around 15 minutes
allowing the penalty shoot-out to take place at the clubhouse end, Chertsey
leading the shoot-out off scored their first, Ivan Dos Santos levelling,
Chertsey scoring their second and Daniel Davies scoring his penalty which he
placed in the top corner coming back out off the upright, underside of
crossbar and stanchion.

Davies' penalty seemed
to psyche the next Chertsey player as he blazed his penalty over the bar,
Alfred Akiotou put Epsom ahead, Mark Cowhig got a boot to the fourth Chertsey
penalty but was unable to keep it out, George Carlin kept Epsom ahead by
sending the ball straight down the middle under the Chertsey keeper.

Mark Cowhig once again
got a boot to the fifth Chertsey penalty but again was unable to keep the
ball out, Julian Van Gelder stepped up with the pressure on his shoulders to
hit the ball to the keeper's right, the Chertsey keeper got a hand to the
ball but was only able to help the ball into the inside wall of the goal
sending jubilant Epsom players to swarm Van Gelder.

Epsom & Ewell will
be at home in the semi-final to either Whyteleafe or Woking, the match is
scheduled to be played week commencing 27th February 2006 subject to the
Quarter-Final having been completed.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-4 Woking

Surrey Midweek Floodlit
Cup Semi Final

Wednesday
1st March 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Woking progressed to the
final of the Surrey Midweek Floodlight Invitational Cup with a 4-1 win at
Merland Rise but questions about whether the match should have been abandoned
well before half-time due to a frozen pitch overshadowed the match.

Epsom & Ewell could
have been at least three up within the first half an hour, Seth Adu being
presented with the ball on 14 minutes to fire a shot straight back at goal
forcing the visitors keeper to make a save to tip it around the post, Epsom
& Ewell had a legal goal ruled out on 21 minutes from a corner, the
Woking keeper dropping the ball on Seth Adu's foot who managed to force it
home but the referee disallowed it for an alleged push on the Woking keeper
who had no Epsom & Ewell player within four yards of him when he dropped
the ball.

Seth Adu came close with
another effort on 24 minutes that flew just past the post and Alfred Akiotou
saw his header off a Julian Van Gelder corner hit the crossbar on the half
hour mark. Woking forced a diving save from Mark Cowhig on 32 minutes, the Epsom
keeper injuring himself on the hard surface - the referee refusing to abandon
the match despite both sides raising concerns about the pitch.

Woking took the lead on
43 minutes when a corner was bumbled in with a high shot from 8 yards out.
Woking extended the lead within a minute, Epsom & Ewell's restart seeing
Woking pick up the ball and launch it forward for the Woking striker to break
inside George Carlin and fire past Mark Cowhig.

Safety fears were again
raised at half-time but the referee once again refused to abandon the
game.

Epsom & Ewell
reduced the arrears on 68 minutes when a long goal kick by Mark Cowhig saw
Seth Adu and a Woking player both go for the ball, Adu getting a touch on the
ball on the edge of the area, the Woking keeper's legs as he came out to
narrow the angle went from underneath himself allowing the ball to roll into
the empty net.

Woking scored their
third goal on 82 minutes, a diagonal ball being played to their striker to
guide the ball inside the far post from 19 yards out.

Woking made it four in
the sixth minute of injury time, the Woking midfielder going on a solo run to
beat two Epsom defenders before firing low past Mark Cowhig.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-2 Sutton United

Southern Youth League
Cup Quarter Final

Monday
6th March 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth crash out of
second cup in five days

Epsom & Ewell Youth
crashed out of the Southern Youth League Cup at the Quarter-Final stage with
a 2-1 home defeat against Sutton United in a cracking cup tie.

Sutton United thought
that they had taken the lead on 24 minutes but poor positioning by the match
officials saw them unable to clearly see if the ball had crossed the line.
Poor control by the Epsom attackers saw chances wasted before Ben Radford had
an effort blocked by the Sutton keeper on 37 minutes.

Sutton took the lead on
42 minutes when Epsom & Ewell failed to get a boot on the ball on a
Sutton attack seeing the ball swept to Zak Graham to score low past Mark
Cowhig.

Epsom & Ewell got on
level terms after 52 minutes when Ben Radford's first time shot from 15 yards
out took a deflection off Ross Gormley to send the ball into the top corner
away from Aaron Bogle.

Sutton United scored the
winner on 68 minutes when Bradley Duke connected with a corner to volley the
ball home off the underside of the crossbar from 8 yards out. Epsom &
Ewell had a couple of chances but the chances were wide of the Sutton goal.

Cobham
0-1 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
16th March 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth team eventually gained all three points at Cobham but they should have
sealed all three points in the first half.

Epsom & Ewell's
youth with limited resources due to last minute absenteeism over ran the
hosts by creating chance after chance in the first half, Ben Radford and
Ralph Petang forcing goal line saves from Cobham.

Mark Cowhig made a
fingertip save to divert the ball on to the crossbar on 65 minutes before
Epsom & Ewell eventually gained the points with a 79th minute winner that
saw Ben Radford's cross trying to find Ralph Petang slice off Cobham defender
Stenning's boot to send the ball spinning over his own keeper from 15 yards
out.

Kingstonian
2-4 Epsom & Ewell (played at Meadowbank, Dorking F.C.)

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
29th March 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

Four consecutive league
victories for the Youth side as they recorded an emphatic win at Dorking to
move a couple of places up the East Division table.

We took the lead after
10 minutes, a Bryan Harrison free-kick was half-cleared by the Kingstonian
‘keeper under pressure from Ben Radford, but Harrison followed up to score
with a fierce left-foot shot into the bottom corner.

Six minutes later we
added a second, a wayward back-pass had the K’s ‘keeper under pressure as he
was closed down by Ben Radford, the ‘keeper sliced his clearance and Radford
turned quickly to sweep the ball home from an acute angle.

A splendid tackle by
Alfred Akiotu robbed Creag Wilson, but the K’s skipper pulled a goal back
after 36 minutes when we were caught in possession and outnumbered as K’s
piled forward.

Sandro Palladino had a
good chance for the home side but Mark Cowhig saved but we regained our
two-goal lead after 42 minutes, a long ball saw Ben Radford flick the ball
over a defender and as the ball came down, his flick with the outside of his
right foot, although not the best of touches, saw the ball loop over the
‘keeper and find the back of the net via the post.

The fourth goal came a
minute later, an excellent ball inside the defender from Matt Lewis picking
out Bryan Harrison, whose first-time shot gave the K’s ‘keeper no chance.

The second half never
matched the first, a crunching tackle from Jarman on Daniel Davies, saw both
players cautioned, Davies for retaliation and from the free-kick Alfred
Akiotu’s far post header hit the base of the post and was cleared.

Palladino pulled a goal
back for K’s after 61 minutes when we failed to clear our lines, but we
nearly added another when Seth Adu’s quick throw found Daniel Davies, but his
left-foot effort was pushed round by the ‘keeper.

We nearly conceded a
late goal when a long ball saw Jarman head past the advancing Tim Farrington,
but Alfred Akiotu got back to sweep the ball off the line.

Mark Cowhig (Tim
Farrington 65 mins), Ivan Dos Santos, Connor Self, Alfred Akiotu, George
Carlin, Bryan  Harrison, Mark Styles,
Matt Lewis (Seth Adu 54 mins), Daniel Davies (Ralph Petang 79 mins), Ben
Radford, Mark Frimpong

Kingstonian
2-4 Epsom & Ewell (played at Meadowbank, Dorking F.C.)

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
29th March 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth blitz K's

The youth were also in
action this evening and continuing with their good run of recent league form
with an impressive 4-2 win against Kingstonian at Dorking's Meadowbank
ground.

Ben Radford and Bryan
Harrison both scoring a brace for the E's in the first half before K's gained
two consolation goals either side of half-time.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-5 Staines Town

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
5th April 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

A well below-par
performance from a weakened youth side, without the injured Alfred Akiotu and
Julian Van Gelder.  Daniel Davies was
also missing (on holiday).

Two goals down after 20
minutes, both from Shroot corners, the first a far-post header, the second a
powering header from around the penalty spot area, and Staines made it 3-0 on
the half-hour with a left foot drive.
Bryan Harrison saw his free-kick tipped over by the Staines ‘keeper,
but two goals in the opening 10 minutes of the second half sealed it.

Mark Cowhig (Tim
Farrington 45 mins), Ivan Dos Santos, Connor Self, Mark Styles, George
Carlin, Bryan Harrison, Mark Frimpong (Patrick Baah 69 mins), Matt Lewis,
Seth Adu, Michael Faulkner, Ben Radford.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-5 Staines Town

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
5th April 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth lost 5-0 at home to Staines Town this evening.

With a number of
absentees the team was down to bare minimum, seeing Staines score their first
three goals in the first half on 10, 20 and 30 minutes and making it five
with two quickfire goals after 47 and 49 minutes.

Ashford
Town (Middx) 2-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
12th April 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell youth
earned a point away at Ashford Town (Middx) in a game that was played like an
end of season affair but had everything.

Epsom & Ewell fell a
goal behind on 12 minutes when a long ball forward saw the Ashford striker
latch on to it and round Mark Cowhig to roll the ball home.

Epsom & Ewell
created numerous chances and could have easily been a couple of goals ahead
of the hosts by half time but nearly found themselves two behind when Julian
Van Gelder stumbled in the penalty area seeing the referee awarding a penalty
which beat Mark Cowhig but crashed off the crossbar.

Epsom scored the
equaliser within 25 seconds of the restart when Matt Lewis' freekick found
Ben Radford's diving header to steer the ball home from 6 yards out.

Bryan Harrison was shown
a straight red on 78 minutes (having already been shown a yellow in the first
half for a reckless challenge) for foul and abusive comments aired about a
decision that the referee had awarded to Ashford.

Ashford re-took the lead
on 82 minutes when a pass down the right wing saw the Ashford player step
inside Julian Van Gelder and volley the ball off the far post from the edge
of the area.

Epsom & Ewell could
have forced an equaliser when substitute Ralph Petang had two one on one
chances in the remaining minutes but a cynical and a potentially career
threatening challenge in the 6th minute of injury time on Ralph Petang inside
the Ashford box saw the referee point to the spot and show his second red
card of the night, Julian Van Gelder sending the keeper the wrong way from
the spot.

Cove
0-4 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
19th April 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

A nightmare journey and
a 20-minute late kick-off, but the Youth team recovered well after the
briefest of warm-ups, and were gifted an early goal, but were never really in
danger against a team that they had beaten 5-0 at Merland Rise earlier in the
season.

After taking just 5
points from their opening 10 games, the performances suddenly improved, and
Wednesday's 4-0 win took their recent record to 5 wins and a draw from the
last 7 games. A good, if somewhat unexpected start, when with just 8 minutes
gone, a Cove defender headed a Mark Styles corner into his own net.

After Daniel Davies had
been cautioned for deliberate handball,we went further ahead on tha
half-hour, Mark Frimpong to Michael Faulkner and a left-foot cross which
Daniel Davies thumped home with his left foot. Daniel Davies had his shot
from a Ben Radford pass deflected for a coner off a defender, and Davies was
close again, picking up a Matt Lewis pass, rounding a defender, but poking
the ball just wide of the far post.

The second half saw
Davies connect with a Faulkner cross, but his shot was blocked, the rebound
popped out to Faulkner whose shot was into the side-netting. Matt Lewis was
booked for a foul and with 10 minutes left, Cove were reduced to ten men when
Tony Janaway was shown a straight red for an appalling tackle on Davies. We
rounded off the scoring with two goals in the last 5 minutes, Michael
Faulkner scored with a left foot shot from the edge of the box and right on
the 90 minute mark, Mark Frimpong's pass picked out Seth Adu, the 'keeper
saved his shot, but the rebound fell nicely for Michael Faulkner, who tucked
the ball home to round off a reasonably comfortable victory.

In the entire 90
minutes, I cannot remember a clear chance that fell to the home side, such
was our domination.

Team: Mark Cowhig, Ivan
Dos Santos, Connor Self, Mark Styles, George Carlin (sub.Julian Van Gelder 45
mins), Bryan Harrison(sub.Seth Adu 83 mins), Matt Lewis, Mark Frimpong,
Daniel Davies, Michael Faulkner, Ben Radford.

Cove
0-4 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
19th April 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom & Ewell's
youth team managed to gain a 4-0 win away at Cove.

The match did not start
until 8:10 due to the Epsom side being stuck in traffic on their way to
Hampshire but the E's raced into a two goal lead within the first half an
hour when a Cove defender managed to score in his own net and then Daniel
Davies extended the lead. Michael Faulkner secured the win with two goals in
the final five minutes of the match.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-2 Colliers Wood United

Southern Youth League

Monday
24th April 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth finish with draw
at home to Colliers Wood United

Epsom & Ewell's
youth battled out a 2-2 draw against Colliers Wood United at Merland Rise.
Colliers Wood took the lead on 22 minutes when a corner saw no foul given on
Epsom keeper Mark Cowhig, the loose ball being converted from 4 yards out.

Epsom & Ewell
restored parity after just 25 seconds when the ball was played into Daniel
Davies who managed to convert past the visiting keeper. The game seemed to be
finishing as a draw until the first minute of injury time when Mark Styles
fouled the Colliers Wood striker, the penalty was converted past Mark
Cowhig.

Epsom & Ewell were
awarded a penalty in the sixth minute of injury time when Ben Radford was
fouled in the box with a wild challenge, the Colliers Wood midfielder seeing
red for foul and abusive language resulting in Julian Van Gelder stepping up
to convert the penalty to seal a sixth place finish on goal difference above
Kingstonian by just a single goal.

2006/07 Season

Pre-Season Round Up

Friendly

August
2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Dave Wilson

The
Youth team have had a couple of friendlies, with a couple more to come next
week, before they start their league campaign, on Wednesday 2nd August they
drew 1-1 with Carshalton Athletic, our goal coming from Yousuf Conteh, and
last Monday they beat Croydon 3-2 at Merland Rise, after conceding an early
goal, we equalised when Chris Monk deftly held off a defender’s challenge to
score after the Croydon ‘keeper had parried the first shot.

Matt
Keddo headed home a far-post corner to give us the lead early in the second
half, only for Croydon to equalise, but we grabbed a late winner when a
corner was half-cleared, and Zach Powell’s fierce dipping effort from outside
the box  comprehensively beat the Croydon ‘keeper.

Pre-Season
Round Up

Friendly

August
2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Wednesday
02nd August 2006

Epsom
& Ewell youth held by Carshalton Athletic youth

Epsom
& Ewell's new look youth side gained a draw against last year's Southern
Youth League North Division champions Carshalton Athletic. Epsom &
Ewell's youth put in an excellent solid performance against strong opposition
and took a deserved lead on 11 minutes when the visitors defence failed to
clear the ball out of their own box allowing Epsom & Ewell to bundle the
ball home.

Epsom
& Ewell could have extended the lead in the early stages of the second
half when a flowing move that started from the back saw the ball end up in
the Carshalton box, the shot from just in front of the penalty spot being
turned away by the Carshalton keeper.

Carshalton
scored an equaliser with only a couple of minutes left in the match, the
defence failing to close down the Carshalton attackers allowing the ball to
be played to the back post finding a Carshalton player to slide the ball
home.

Youth
manager Steve Butt after the match saying "The results in pre-season
friendlies are meaningless, it is the performance that is more important and
I am very happy with our performance tonight.

The
side looked solid and like they had been together for a season even though
many of them only met each other for the first time just over four weeks
ago"

The
youth team will play a friendly against AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday 15th August
at AFC's training ground - Kingston University Sports Ground, Tolworth (next
to Racal Decca). The full youth team fixture list for this season will be
posted on this site over the next 24 hours.

Monday
07th August 2006

Epsom
& Ewell youth score late winner against Trams

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team won their latest pre-season friendly at home to
Croydon this evening.

The
E's fell a goal behind on 6 minutes when a Croydon cross found the head on a
Croydon player to manage to float the ball into the top corner of the net.
Epsom & Ewell levelled on 18 minutes when a through ball saw Chris Monk
gather the ball with only the keeper to beat, his first shot being blocked by
the Croydon keeper but his persistence allowed him to get a second attempt,
this time managing to guide the ball home from 12 yards out.

Epsom
& Ewell took the lead on 57 minutes when Matt Keddo headed the ball home
from 8 yards out. Croydon drew level on 81 minutes when the ball was played
long, the Epsom defence being caught the wrong side of the ball, the shot
from just inside the box finding the far corner of the net.

Epsom
& Ewell managed to score the winner on 89 minutes when Zak Powell was on
the end of a corner cleared by Croydon to hit the the ball on the half volley
over the goalkeeper that dipped just under the crossbar.

Manager
Steve Butt after the match commented "This was a good run out against
Croydon and gave our players a good test. I am very pleased with the way the
team played tonight and the way that the team responding after conceding such
an early goal."

Thursday
17th August 2006

Youth
grind out win against Chipstead

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team managed to grind out a 1-0 win at Chipstead in their
latest pre-season friendly. Epsom & Ewell scored the only goal of the
match on 12 minutes when Zak Powell's free-kick from 30 yards out found the
top corner of the net.

The
Epsom & Ewell defence lived dangerously on a number of occasions but they
managed to keep the ball out and keep a clean sheet. Chipstead's best
opportunity occurred a minute from time from a one on one but a double save
from the E's keeper managed to ensure that Chipstead failed to score.

Tonight's
result comes on the back of a 3-2 win away at AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night.
Youth manager Steve Butt said after the match tonight "[AFC] Wimbledon
were a good test for our side as they play teams such as Woking and Wycombe's
youth academy sides in the Football Conference Youth League.

Two
objectives were set for the match tonight which were to win and to keep a
clean sheet which the team managed to achieve although I do admit we did ride
our luck at times - you have to learn how to grind out 1-0 wins at our level
which the new players would have learnt with this match tonight".

Wednesday
23rd August 2006

Youth
draw blank against Croydon Athletic

Epsom
& Ewell's Youth drew a blank in their latest and probably their last
pre-season friendly against Croydon Athletic played at Crescent Rovers F.C.
tonight.

Epsom
were missing a number of players giving manager Steve Butt the opportunity to
trial different players in positions ahead of the season in the Southern
Youth League.

Epsom
keeper made an excellent save in the first half to keep a shot from the
visitors out of the top corner and Epsom were guilty of missing two gilt edge
chances in the second half in a match played in torrential rain that failed
to get going.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-1 Colliers Wood United

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
6th September 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team started off the league campaign with a draw at home
to Colliers Wood United.

The
visitors managing to take a 43rd minute lead with a cross from the right wing
being converted inside Alex Sale's near post. Epsom & Ewell equalised on
52 minutes when Yousef Conteh picked up a loose ball to chip the ball over
the Colliers Wood keeper from 12 yards out.

Zach
Powell's free-kick on 62 minutes from 30 yards out rattled the crossbar and
Yousef Conteh could have snatched the points in injury time when he held off
three defenders inside the visitors box before unleashing a shot from 15
yards out that only just cleared the crossbar.

Epsom
& Ewell 3-0 Ashford Town (Middx)

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
13th September 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's Youth made it four points from a possible six points with a
confident performance to earn a three nil win at home to Ashford Town
(Middx).

Epsom
& Ewell opened the scoring on 25 minute when Reuben Lavrado managed to
bundle the ball home, and the same player was on hand to pick up a loose ball
and chip the ball over the advancing keeper from the edge of the box on 42
minutes.

Epsom
& Ewell made it three nil in the first minute of injury time when Alwyn
Dixon managed to pick up a loose ball, his shot rebounding off the post
straight to Chris Monk to tap home from 4 yards out.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-1 Cobham

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
20th September 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell Youth side managed to win tonight's top of the table Southern
Youth League East Division tussle at Merland Rise against second placed
Cobham.

A
week on from Dave Wilson being taken ill before passing away on Thursday, a
minute's silence was observed.

It
was Cobham that started the brighter in the opening fifteen minutes but Epsom
came strong for the rest of half and should have been a couple of goals up by
half-time but a string of fine saves by Cobham keeper Ben Sims prevented the
E's from being ahead.

Epsom
managed to take the lead on 48 minutes when the ball was knocked long, Ruben
Lavrado holding off a Cobham defender to play the ball into Zach Powell, the
midfielder brought the ball into the box before curling it into the far top
corner of the net from 15 yards out.

Epsom
centre back Dan Cunningham saw his header on 52 minutes from a Mark Frimpong
corner only just fly over the bar. Epsom & Ewell extended the lead on 73
minutes, another long clearance by Dan Cunningham saw Ruben Lavrado pick the
ball up just inside the Cobham box managing flick the ball past the injured
Cobham keeper Ben Sims and then flick it past another defender before firing
home from 6 yards out.

Cobham
were forced to replace Sims after the goal and the delay in restarting saw
Epsom switch totally off, from the kick-off the ball was fired long straight
down the middle of the pitch for Cobham substitute Jermaine Dakin to score
with his first touch after coming on by guiding the ball past Alex Sale.

Epsom
should have ensured all three points on 81 minutes, the ball finding Chris
Monk 8 yards out but he rushed his effort to slice his effort wide of the
net.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-0 Dover Athletic (after extra time)

F.A.Youth Cup First
Qualifying Round

Wednesday
27th September 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell Youth managed to deservedly progress to the next round of the FA
Youth Cup with a 2-0 win against Dover Athletic after extra-time.

The
match was very open in the first half with Epsom & Ewell posing the
visitors with some early problems but Dover had the first real effort on 23
minutes, the Epsom defence being exposed by a through ball that found Scott
Bouvier, his angled shot shaving the post.

Ruben
Lavrado was played in by Alex Bailey on 28 minutes, his shot forcing the
Dover keeper Nick Shaw into a save to his right. Epsom kept creating chances
but the five man Dover defence thwarted any chance of a shot on target with
last ditch tackles.

Epsom
should have been ahead on 48 minutes, the ball being floated over the top of
the Dover defence finding Yousef Conteh to chip the ball over the advancing
Nick Shaw but the ball fell the wrong side of the post by inches.

Epsom
kept creating the chances but a gutsy performance by the visiting defence
managed to keep the ball out of the net much to the frustration of the home
players and vocal supporters. Epsom were denied two loud penalty appeals for
handball against Dover players inside the final ten minutes of the second
half but normal time ended in a goal less stalemate - the second one to
involve Epsom sides in FA Competitions inside 96 hours at Merland Rise.

Dover
should have been ahead on 93 minutes when Scott Bouvier managed to get away
from the Epsom defence after picking up a ball down the right wing, cutting
in with only Alex Sale to beat he managed to find the side netting from 12
yards out.

Epsom
took control of the match from this point until the final whistle and a
controversial moment occurred on 104 minutes when Sam Braggins corner floated
over the keeper off the inside of the far post and over the line but the goal
celebrations were short lived as the goal was ruled out for an alleged push
by Ruben Lavrado on the keeper.

Epsom
managed to take the lead on 108 minutes when Ruben Lavrado picked up a Mark
Frimpong pass just inside the area, managing to twist twice in the box he set
himself up well to guide the ball diagonally into the corner of the net from
8 yards out past Nick Shaw to send the Epsom players into jubilant
celebrations and the majority of the Epsom crowd into raptures.

The
goal allowed the Dover defence to become more exposed as Epsom found ease in
getting the ball down both wings as the second period of extra time
progressed, and the referee was given no option but to award a penalty in the
117th minute when Yousef Conteh had both legs taken inside the Dover
box.

Captain
Dan Cunningham stepped up to slot the penalty home past Nick Shaw who had
saved a penalty in the last round. In the next round we will be away at
Oakwood in a fortnight.

Epsom
& Ewell 3-2 Epsom & Ewell Colts u-16

Friendly

Wednesday
4th October 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
edge friendly against spirited Colts side

Epsom
& Ewell's youth side managed to beat the Epsom & Ewell Colts under-16
side at Merland Rise.

Youth
manager Steve Butt took the opportunity of the friendly to give a number of
players a start that have been sitting on the bench recently as well as
giving Alfred Akiotou a full ninety minutes to help him get match fit after
recovering from his injury and also trial a couple of potential new
players.

Both
sides being top of their respective leagues were keen from the start to show
the desire to win the friendly, Chris Monk finding the side netting on 8
minutes for Epsom & Ewell youth after being played in, but it was the
Colts that took the lead on 12 minutes, a pass through the channel down the
right wing seeing the Colts player collect the ball and fire high past Alex
Sale from 12 yards out.

The
Colts side were causing the Youth defence problems as the first half
continued and they could have extended the lead on 19 minutes when a rasping
drive from just outside the box required Epsom Youth keeper Alex Sale to make
a spectacular one handed save to his right to push the ball wide of the
upright.

Zach
Powell's free-kick on 38 minutes from 30 yards out saw the ball cannon off
the face of the crossbar but the Colts managed to scramble the ball
clear.  Epsom & Ewell Youth managed to go in level at half-time when
Ruben Lavrado picked up the ball inside the Colts box on 44 minutes and fired
home from 8 yards out.

The
score line was a fair reflection of the closeness of the half with the Colts
being slightly the better side based on performance.

The
second half started off just as close as the first half but the turning point
occurred on the hour mark when Epsom & Ewell Youth took the lead, a
throw-in on the right wing saw Ruben Lavrado go pass a Colt player and flight
a chip from the edge of the box to the back post for Jerson Dos Santos to
score with a flying header.

The
Colts became very weary for the final 25 minutes of the match as playing two
games inside 72 hours caught up with them (there league cup game on Sunday
went to extra-time), this gave Epsom & Ewell Youth the opportunity to go
up a gear. A shot on 64 minutes saw the ball take a deflection off an Epsom
& Ewell Colts defender managing to loop the ball over the Colts keeper
but crash off the top of the crossbar.

Alex
Sale was forced into making another excellent save on 72 minutes, a shot from
the edge of the box trying to find the top corner saw Sale get both hands
securing around the ball to pluck the ball away from his own net. Alex Sale
from this save started an Epsom & Ewell youth move that eventually saw
the ball find Peter Alkass just inside the Colts box to execute a good finish
to put the Youth 3-1 up.

Epsom
& Ewell Colts keeper made a fine save in the 88th minute when coming to
narrow the angle to push a shot on to the roof of his own net. The Colts were
handed a consolation goal in the fourth minute of injury time, Youth keeper
Alex Sale slipping over as he took a goal kick, the ball flying straight to a
Colts player just outside the Youth box seeing the Colts player bring the
back into the box, round Sale and roll the ball into the back of the
net.

The
Colts nearly sneaked an equaliser a minute later, a free-kick being floated
into the Youth box seeing an unmarked Colts player get a header in that flew
just over the top of the crossbar. Youth Manager Steve Butt said afterwards
"We are pleased with the win but a couple of our players mentality was
wrong this evening.

The
Colts are a good little side and made us battle hard for our victory. Both
myself and Derek have identified a number of players in their side which we
are going to keep a track of as these players are potential Epsom & Ewell
Youth players next season.

Oakwood
1-2 Epsom & Ewell

F.A.Youth Cup Second
Qualifying Round

Wednesday
11th October 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team progressed to a third qualifying round tie away at
Ramsgate in a fortnight with a 2-1 win away at Oakwood in this evening's
second qualifying round tie.

Epsom
& Ewell with most of the pressure on the Oakwood half should have been
ahead by the time the half time break occurred as Ruben Lavrado was presented
with a number of opportunities but he kept finding himself offside but the
one time when he managed to stay onside his shot from a tight angle missed
the far post by inches.

The
second half saw Oakwood given opportunities to come back into the game as the
match opened up, but the E's took the lead on 70 minutes when Alfred Akiotou
managed to drag a number of Oakwood players towards him, his cross into the
far post finding the unmarked Yousef Conteh with a downward header from 6
yards out.

Epsom
had a second goal on 78 minutes ruled out for offside against Ruben Lavrado,
but it was Lavrado who went on a solo run from 20 yard out on 82 minutes
seeing him manage to stroke the ball into the net from 12 yards out past
Oakwood keeper Marc Whitmarsh.

Epsom
conceded a goal in the fourth minute of injury time when Rob Gardiner's
effort saw Epsom keeper Alex Sale misjudge the flight of the ball allowing
the ball to bounce over him.

Ashford
Town (Middx) 1-3 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
18th October 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth completed a double over Ashford Town (Middx) with their
least impressive performance of the season in tonight's 3-1 win away at
Shorts Lane.

Epsom
took a second minute lead when a ball played straight through the defence by
Zach Powell saw Yousef Conteh latch on to the ball, his cross played across
the face of the six yard box seeing the ball bundled home off a combination
of Ruben Lavrado boot and the boot of an Ashford defender.

Epsom
extended the lead on 27 minutes, Zach Powell's ball over the top trying to
send Ruben Lavrado away saw Ashford keeper Richardson come flying out of his
box to try to clear only for the Ashford keeper to have a fresh air shot,
Ruben Lavrado picking up the loose ball and rolling it home into the empty
net from the edge of the area.

Epsom
were ragged at the back and began to look tired, this being their third match
inside six days and the visitors allowed Ashford plenty of chances in the
opening twenty minutes of the second half but Epsom re-took the initiative
for the final twenty minutes with the introduction of Alwyn Dixon, Yousef
Conteh converted an Ivan Dos Santos cross on 71 minutes but the flag was
raised for offside.

A
deserved third did arrive on 74 minutes, Dan Cunningham's free-kick just
inside the Ashford half being curled into the back post, Ivan Dos Santos'
header from 10 yards out crashing off the bar straight to Ruben Lavrado to
drill the ball back past the keeper from 9 yards out.

Epsom
& Ewell once again conceded an injury time consolation goal, the corner
finding the Ashford player standing 6 yards off the near post with a header,
the win not enough to remain top of the table as Godalming Town beat Cobham
4-0 to go top on goal difference.

Ramsgate
3-3 Epsom & Ewell (after extra time - lost 4-5 on penalties)

F.A.Youth Cup Third
Qualifying Round

Wednesday
25th October 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell Youth depart FA Youth Cup after whirlwind comeback

Epsom
& Ewell's youth side never got out of the blocks from the start and found
themselves 2-0 down after just 5 minutes when Niall McCourt scored a brace
both times from the edge of the area, Yousef Conteh was hacked down from
behind in the 38th minute that saw Epsom's loud penalty appeals turned down
and the Epsom side found themselves three down in the fifth minute of first
half injury time when the ball was crossed to the back post for the finish to
be applied by Sam Brennan.

Epsom
& Ewell came out for the second half and could have been four down on 47
minutes except for an excellent save by Alex Sale, Ruben Lavrado reduced the
arrears on 53 minutes when his shot from 15 yards out took a deflection to
send the ball past Darren Goldsack, Mark Frimpong was taken out in the
Ramsgate penalty area on 60 minutes with a challenge that was only half
intensity of the one that was not given on Yousef in the first half.

Dan
Cunningham sent the keeper the wrong way and the comeback was complete in the
64th minute, Darren Goldsack's goalkick only managing to find Zach Powell his
boot sending the ball back towards the Ramsgate area seeing Ruben Lavrado run
clear of the Ramsgate defence, pick up the ball and fire home from 15 yards
out.

Both
sides could have added to the tally in the remainder of the second half and
extra time but the lottery of penalties saw Ramsgate progress after the
seventh penalty each side took.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-0 Leatherhead

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
8th November 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell Youth win local encounter

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.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-1 Carshalton Athletic

Surrey Midweek Floodlit
Cup Second Round

Wednesday
22nd November 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website and Epsom & Ewell FC Match Programme

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team under performed 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 an unmarked player standing on the front post
to head.

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.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-2 Kingstonian

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
29th November 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

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.

Cove
4-2 Epsom & Ewell (played at Merland Rise)

Grant McLellan League
Cup First Round First Leg

Wednesday
13th December 2006

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

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 Humphries on his near post.

Cove
re-established their two goal lead on 63 minutes when a through ball saw Ed
Humphries 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 have 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.

Colliers
Wood United 0-3 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Tuesday
16th January 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

After
21 days without any football throughout the club, tonight's youth match was
able to be played at Colliers Wood just days after the first team match
there had been postponed.

With
no rain since the weekend, praise should be given to Colliers Wood for the
work that they had done on the pitch to get it fit to play tonight's match,
which included putting sand down in the boggy areas that made many parts of
the pitch resemble a beach rather than a grass pitch.

Epsom
& Ewell started the brighter and were ahead on 5 minutes when Zach Powell
floated a free-kick from 25 yards out over the wall on to the underside of
the crossbar, the ball being adjudged to have bounced down and crossed the
line by the assistant referee and Ivan Dos Santos slid in to head the ball
into the net to ensure that Epsom were ahead.

Epsom
& Ewell managed to find the groove during the first half as chances kept
being created down the right wing, Ruben Lavrado on 32 minutes seeing his
snap shot from the edge of the area drift just wide of the post, new signing
from Carshalton Athletic Omar Darweesh managed to get on to the end of an
Ivan Dos Santos cross but he was unable to control the direction of his
header on 35 minutes and Zach Powell's shot on 37 minutes from 25 yards out
took a deflection that forced Colliers Wood keeper Anthony Guincy to scramble
the ball around his post after it took an awkward bounce off the sand surface
in his penalty area.

Colliers
Wood found the back of the net on 42 minutes but the effort was ruled out
as the home striker had managed to control the ball with his hand before
firing past Alex Sale from 6 yards out. Colliers Wood were getting closer
and closer to notching the equaliser but Epsom & Ewell in the first
minute of injury time broke away from a poorly taken corner, Dan
Cunningham's clearance finding Ruben Lavrado to beat the challenge of the
only Colliers Wood defender left back at the corner, Lavrado rolling the
ball into the path of Omar Darweesh to collect the through pass and then
with the outside of his boot flick the ball into the empty net from 25
yards out past Colliers Wood keeper Anthony Guincy who had come to the edge
of his box to try to narrow the angle.

The
second half started with the home keeper Anthony Guincy having to be replaced
on 48 minutes after collapsing in a heap after sliding out to make a save at
the feet of Mark Frimpong, the keeper had apparently started the match with a
knee injury which was being aggravated every time that he was being forced to
make a save, an outfield player being forced to don the keeper's jersey and
gloves.

Colliers
Wood were kicking themselves on 53 minutes when Epsom & Ewell down to ten
men with Dan Cunningham off the pitch getting treatment for a facial injury
failed to mark up at a free-kick, visitors keeper Alex Sale coming to collect
the ball but failing to reach it allowing the ball to find a Colliers Wood's
Chris Beard on the back post with a diving header from 3 yards out with an
open goal in front of him but the header flashed the wrong side of the
post.

Both
sides were finding it hard to play passing football as move after move for
both sides were breaking down as the sand started to disappear into the mud
as the ball started to stick to the pitch. With rain starting to fall the
final twenty minutes were scrappy, Ruben Lavrado trying to get on the end of
an Omar Darweesh pass saw the Colliers Wood stand-in keeper slide out to take
the ball away from the Epsom striker.

Epsom
& Ewell tiring with the heavy pitch conditions started to allow Colliers
Wood to come on to them, Alex Sale being forced into make a double save in
the 85th minute to his left after the ball took an awkward bounce off the
sandy area inside his area and in the 90th minute when he was forced into
readjusting himself after seeing the ball take a bobble as it came through
the penalty area.

A
needless free-kick was given away in the second minute of injury time on the
edge of the box but this was blasted high over Alex Sale's goal. The
resulting goal kick seeing Chris Monk chase the ball but Colliers Wood
defender Daniel Coleman was first to the ball and decided to try to pass back
to his keeper but the ball stuck in a big mud puddle, Omar Darweesh getting
to the loose ball first to manage to side foot the ball from 20 yards out
under the Colliers Wood stand in keeper allowing it to roll with the help of
the compacted sand into the unguarded net to round off the 3-0 victory.

Cobham
0-3 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
1st February 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell came away from the Leg O' Mutton ground with a 3-0 win in the
Southern Youth League East Division encounter this evening against
Cobham.

Epsom
& Ewell could have been a goal ahead on 17 minutes when the ball was
played through to Omar Darweesh, his shot being blocked by Cobham keeper Liam
Poupart. Epsom & Ewell deservedly took the lead on 22 minutes when Zach
Powell's free-kick found Ruben Lavrado with a diving header to guide the ball
inside Liam Poupart's near post.

Epsom
should have been further ahead on 26 minutes when Zach Powell's volley from
20 yards out cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and bounced clear of
Mark Frimpong and Omar Darweesh was denied on 32 minutes when Cobham's Joel
Watson made a defensive block to force the ball out for a corner.

Epsom
& Ewell doubled the lead on 37 minutes, Zach Powell's corner found Dan
Cunningham outjumping a Cobham defender 10 yards out on the back post to loop
the ball over Liam Poupart. Cobham should have reduced the arrears on 42
minutes when the ball was threaded through to Paul Nicholls but Dan
Cunningham and Alfred Akiotu provided enough pressure to make the Cobham
player manage to scoop his effort from 15 yards out over the crossbar.

The
game was sealed within 30 seconds of the restart, the kick-off by Epsom &
Ewell being pushed deep into the Cobham half, Cobham's Mark Smith managed to
allow the ball to run underneath his boot for Omar Darweesh to pick up the
ball and square it to Ruben Lavrado to fire low past Liam Poupart from 12
yards out.

Epsom
& Ewell switched off for the remainder of the match to allow the side to
just go through the motions. Cobham saw shots on 67 and 82 minutes come off
the face of the crossbar, and in the final minute of the match Alex Sale was
forced to push another shot on to the bar by James Snisko, the follow-up by
Jermaine Dakin saw Paul Cox manage to head the ball off the line.

AFC
Wimbledon 5-0 Epsom & Ewell

Friendly

Sunday
4th February 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
defeated in friendly by AFC Wimbledon

Epsom
& Ewell's youth manager Steve Butt used this friendly as an ideal
opportunity to give all the fringe players a run out although the number of
players available was severely depleted with five players due to be starting
pulling out overnight with pulls.

Due
to only having ten available players he was forced to play regular starters
Sam Braggins, Alfred Akiotu and Ruben Lavrado from the start despite them
only due to be substitutes. Both sides had one chance to score during the
first half but James Andy prevented AFC Wimbledon taking the lead with a
block and Ruben Lavrado managed to drill his shot just wide of the far post
in the closing moments.

AFC
Wimbledon managed to open the scoring in the fifth minute of the second half
when the AFC Wimbledon striker managed to get in front of James Kelly to poke
the ball past Ed Humphries.

Epsom
& Ewell were then forced to be reduced to nine men after 15 minutes of
the second half as Ed Humphries had to go next door to play for the Colts
under 16 side, Sam Braggins taking over between the sticks. AFC Wimbledon
then managed to score two quick fire goals with through balls that saw the
Epsom & Ewell defence outnumbered.

Epsom
& Ewell were reduced to eight men with ten minutes left when Peter Alkass
limped off with a hamstring injury, AFC then scoring their fourth off a cross
from the right that was converted past Braggins. The final minute saw Alfred
Akiotu forced to limp off with cramp with the hosts taking advantage by
scoring their fifth.

Guildford
City 1-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League
Cup Second Round

Wednesday
7th February 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth side progressed to the next round of the Southern Youth
League Cup with a 2-1 win but made themselves do it the hard way to set up a
visit to Gander Green Lane in the next round to face Sutton United.

The
match taking place at a sub-zero Spectrum Centre saw the visitors unable to
string a pass together as the Epsom players found it difficult coping with
the freezing weather conditions. Guildford had the only real opportunity
during the first half when a free-kick crashed off the underside of the
crossbar, the follow-up being blocked by Alex Sale's legs allowing it to be
scrambled around his near post.

Epsom
& Ewell came out for the second half starting to notch up the gears as
they pressed Guildford backwards, Ruben Lavrado on 53 minutes and Omar
Darweesh on 58 minutes saw them both unable to get a clean shot away as the
Guildford keeper made fairly easy saves on both occassions. Zach Powell's
cross on 65 minutes saw Ruben Lavrado connect with a header that forced
Guildford keeper James Simpson into a one handed save to his left to keep the
effort out.

The
opening goal eventually coming on 72 minutes when Ruben Lavrado on the
overlap received a ball down the line from Mark Frimpong, his surging run
allowed him to pull the ball across the face of the box for Omar Darweesh to
put the ball in the net from 2 yards out with the aid of his thigh, chest and
the inside of the post.

Ruben
Lavrado on 73 minutes with an fresh air shot from 6 yards out and Mark
Frimpong on 75 minutes with a looping shot from 25 yards out that landed on
the roof of the net could have put Epsom & Ewell in the next round with
breathing space. Guildford City then managed to beat Alex Sale for the second
time during the match with a free-kick that bounced out off the underside of
the crossbar on 76 minutes, the ball being cleared upfield for the Epsom
midfield to lose it, the long ball return back over the top seeing the
Guildford centre-forward spinning off the two Epsom centre-backs to run on
and bury the ball low past Alex Sale from 12 yards out.

Epsom
& Ewell supporters contemplating the thought of possibly becoming frozen
statutes by having to endure the extra thirty minutes were relieved on 79
minutes when Ivan Dos Santos pass was hooked on for Ruben Lavrado to run on
to, his shot from the edge of the box seeing Guildford City keeper James
Simpson manage to get his outstretched leg on the ball to get a half block on
the ball but the power in the Epsom striker's shot forced the ball to spin
off the top of Simpson's boot allowing it to roll into the net.

Sutton
United 3-0 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League
Cup Third Round

Monday
5th March 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell lost 3-0 against Sutton United at Gander Green Lane in the
Southern Youth League Cup 3rd Round.

Epsom
& Ewell started the stronger and a Zach Powell free-kick tested Sutton
keeper Aaron Bogle in the first ten minutes into making a save to his right.
Sutton took the lead with their first venture into the Epsom box, a corner
floated into the middle of the box being converted from 12 yards out on 16
minutes.

The
hosts with their next attack on 19 minutes doubled the lead when the ball was
threaded into the box, Epsom keeper Alex Sale positioning himself to receive
the ball but failed to notice the incoming Sutton player who got to the ball
first to lift it over Sale into the net.

Epsom
then frustratingly went into their shell for the remainder of the match with
few excursions into the home box. Zach Powell's shot from 20 yards out on 51
minutes forced a save out of Aaron Bogle who was also forced into making a
save minutes later from Alex Bailey.

Sutton
made it three on 70 minutes when a through ball found a home striker who was
not closed down allowing him to hit his shot from 15 yards out into the far
corner of the net, Sutton were awarded a penalty on 76 minutes when Zach
Powell was adjudged to have fouled the Sutton player but the penalty crashed
off the underside of the crossbar and out, even if the penalty had been
scored the goal would have been disallowed as there were two Sutton players
encroaching inside the box when the ball was kicked according to the
referee's signal.

Chris
Monk in the final minutes forced Aaron Bogle into making a save to his left
to scramble the ball around his post.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-1 Epsom & Ewell Colts u-16

Friendly

Wednesday
14th March 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth side beat the Colts under 16 side with an injury time
strike from Henri Kousso-Doua at Merland Rise tonight.

The
youth team should have been three up within the first fifteen minutes but
were denied by two Ed Humphries saves and the crossbar prevented. The Colts
side took a half-time lead thanks to a lapse in concentration by the youth
defence in first half injury time allowing the ball to be scrambled home from
a corner.

Yousef
Conteh equalised in the 50th minute with an angled shot off a Zach Powell
corner. The Colts two minutes later seemed to have taken the lead again but
the linesman judged that the corner had gone out of play and that the Epsom
keeper Alex Sale had palmed it back into play.

The
winner occurred in the second minute of injury time when Henri Kousso-Doua
picked up the ball and hit a swerving shot from 20 yards out that was out of
the reach of Ed Humphries. The match was a lot closer than the one that was
played in October last year and the Colts deserved at least a draw with a
number of the Colts players looking likely to be part of the Youth team next
year which could be even stronger than the current team.

Godalming
Town 2-0 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Monday
19th March 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team were defeated 2-0 at Godalming Town this
evening.

Everything
that could possibly go wrong went wrong, due to the late arrival of the
majority of the team there was limited amount of warm-up time which resulted
from kick-off in a long ball forward seeing Ivan Dos Santos try to take too
many touches to control the ball allowing a Godalming midfielder to take
possession of the ball to cross low for a striker on the back post to guide
the ball past Alex Sale after just 9 seconds!

Mark
Frimpong & Ruben Lavrado were both at fault for missing one on one's
against the home keeper and a second mistake in the Epsom defence in the
first minute of injury time saw the ball crossed for a Godalming player to
hit a shot into the ground, the ball bouncing past Alex Sale's gloves into
the net.

Ruben
Lavrado during the second half was presented with another one on one but
managed to drill his effort straight at the keeper.

Leatherhead
2-1 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Tuesday
27th March 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth away at Leatherhead 2-1 to allow the title hopes to slip
even further away.

The
youth without both Alex Bailey and Zach Powell managed to go a goal down on
17 minutes when a corner found an unmarked player to head home with a
downward header, two minutes later a sloppy pass saw Leatherhead switch the
ball into the path of their unmarked midfielder to get to the ball first and
lift the ball over Alex Sale who had come out to narrow the angle.

Ruben
Lavrado was in the right place on 67 minutes as the Leatherhead keeper
dropped an Alfred Akitou free-kick, the Epsom striker burying the ball into
the net from 10 yards out.

At
the start of the season the team were playing as a team unfortunately for a
good part of this match there were a number of players that were playing for
themselves rather than as a team, if the youth are to win the title they will
now have to win all there remaining fixtures and regain the spirit they
possessed earlier in the season and start to work as a team again.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-2 Godalming Town

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
4th April 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Godalming
completed a double over Epsom & Ewell Youth at Merland Rise this evening
with a 2-1 win.

Godalming
took a twentieth minute lead when the ball was floated into the centre of the
Epsom box for it to be converted low past Ed Humphries. A good build up on 25
minutes saw the ball whipped in for a volley from 10 yards out into the Epsom
& Ewell goal.

Alfred
Akiotu converted a penalty scored a 67th minute penalty when the Godalming
keeper scythed down Alwyn Dixon when he was about to roll the ball into an
empty net which on another day would have seen red but today the referee only
showed a yellow and the keeper should have definitely been sent off and
another penalty awarded when Peter Alkass picked up a through ball and
knocked it past the keeper but the visiting keeper did an even more blatant
tackle that should have seen another penalty awarded and a second yellow but
the referee bottled the decision to allow play to continue.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-3 Warlingham

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
11th April 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team's recent dismal run continued as it was stretched to
five successive defeats as a result of tonights 3-1 defeat.

Epsom
& Ewell scored the opener on 10 minutes when James Kelly at the back post
managed to head the ball back over the Warlingham keeper. The lead only
lasted 53 seconds as the visitors went down the other end to win a free-kick
that was floated into the edge of the Epsom six yard area, the ball was only
half cleared allowing it to be volleyed home from 12 yards out.

Epsom
thought they had re-taken the lead on 34 minutes when an Alex Bailey cross
saw the ball punched against Ruben Lavrado allowing the ball to travel
towards the Warlingham goal and appear to cross the line in mid-air before it
was volley cleared but the referee judged it had not.

Warlingham
made it 2-1 on 36 minutes when the ball was not cleared allowing the ball to
be tapped home from 8 yards out and a long through ball on 38 minutes found
their player to bring the ball down and bury it past Ed Humphries from 15
yards out.

Epsom
& Ewell in the second half were denied what looked like a penalty for a
foul on Zach Powell when the Epsom player collided with the Warlingham
player's outstretched fist as they jumped for the ball inside the area but
the referee instead deciding to award an indirect free-kick from 8 yards out
for the following offence committed by the Warlingham player to have
deliberately impeded the progress of the Epsom player.

Staines
Town 2-1 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Tuesday
17th April 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The youth team were away
at Staines Town where they went down 2-1, the youth were 2-0 down at
half-time and managed to pull a goal back in the second half but reports
coming back from the ground said the home side could have easily score many
more than just two.

Warlingham
1-0 Epsom & Ewell (played at Moatside, Merstham F.C.)

Southern Youth League

Monday
23rd April 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The Youth team's climax
to the season saw the Youth team go down 1-0 away at Merstham against
Warlingham, the goal coming in the first half.

2007/08 Season

Pre-Season Round Up

Friendly

July/August
2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Monday
06th August 2007

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team lost their first friendly of the season against a
tough and physical Carshalton Athletic side by a solitary goal that came
midway through the second half.

Thursday
16th August 2007

Epsom
& Ewell's youth came away from Cobham with a 2-1 win but the score line
and margin should have been greater.

Epsom
& Ewell took a goal lead after just 37 seconds when Will Taylor headed
home a cross from 6 yards out. The lead was doubled on 12 minutes when Sam
Braggins managed to hold off two challenges before crossing the ball to find
Luke Longhurst with a header as he arrived at the back post.

The
rest of the match saw Epsom create chances but get frustrated. Sam Braggins
collected a blocked Dan Cunningham header on 24 minutes but both his efforts
from 4 yards out found the woodwork, Dan Cunningham saw his overhead kick
from a corner fly just over on 34 minutes and another Epsom effort on 40
minutes saw an angled shot roll just wide of the post.

Epsom
allowed Cobham back into the game during the second half and E's keeper Ed
Humphries pulled off a spectacular one handed reaction block from a point
blank volley to turn the ball over his own crossbar on 80 minutes, Aaron
Williams then tested the home keeper with a curling shot that forced an
excellent save to be made, the resulting corner seeing Dan Cunningham
arriving at the back post heading the ball back across the box finding Luke
Longhurst with a point blank shot from 4 yards out that forced the Cobham
into another excellent save to push the ball around the post.

A
defensive error by Epsom allowed Cobham a sniff at goal but Ed Humphries
managed to make a blocking save with his legs to deflect the ball wide of the
far post. Epsom & Ewell finally gave into pressure by conceding a late
consolation goal off a corner in the second minute of injury time when nobody
picked up the runner who managed to have a unchallenged header from 8 yards
out.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-3 Croydon

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
29th August 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell went down 3-0 in a match totally controlled by the visitors.

Epsom
were a goal down after 10 minutes when our keeper Ed Humphries wiped out the
visitors centre forward – should have been red but instead only shown yellow,
penalty converted.

Two
down on 23 minutes, low shot keeper should have held on to but parried to one
of three unmarked Croydon players waiting to tap in loose ball. Three down on
31 minutes our central defender (probably Marsella) running to get to a ball
with Croydon centre forward shoulder to shoulder slipped at most inconvenient
moment, his momentum wiping out the Croydon player just inside our box seeing
him receive a yellow (could have been red) and penalty converted.

Croydon
were reduced to 10 men on 35 minutes for violent conduct.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-4 Mole Valley Predators

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
5th September 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Sorry
Youth defeated at home by Mole Valley Predators

Another
Youth match and another defeat this time at home to Mole Valley
Predators.

Epsom
& Ewell found themselves two down for the second consecutive match inside
the first twenty minutes, a bread & butter poor shot managed to go
through Epsom keeper Ed Humphries outstretched glove on 13 minutes and the
lead was doubled on 19 minutes a crossed in ball finding the Predators centre
forward unmarked to volley home from 12 yards out. Luke Longhurst then
reduced the arrears with a shot from the corner of the box that found the top
corner on 34 minutes.

Epsom
& Ewell conceded a goal early in the second half. Aaron Williams then
reduced the arrears on 65 minutes with an overhead bicycle kick to knock home
a Will Taylor corner.

Predators
made the game safe on 80 minutes with a shot that took a deflection off Dayle
Honess that saw the ball spin over the helpless Ed Humphries.

Burgess
Hill Town 6-1 Epsom & Ewell

F.A.Youth Cup
Preliminary Round

Monday
10th September 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The
youth team followed the senior team out of their respective FA Cup at the
first stage with an emphatic 6-1 defeat at Burgess Hill Town.

Epsom
& Ewell with players mussing due to injury and holidays resulting in only
a 12 man squad being taken to Sussex matched the hosts for the first twenty
minutes but a mistake by Stuart Price on 20 minutes allowed the ball to be
given to Michael McDonald to round Ed Humphries and put the ball into the
net.

John
Lansdale ghosted in on 24 minutes to head home a free-kick unchallenged at
the front post. Stuart Hunter's hard work on 40 minutes saw a low driven
cross fizz across the Burgess Hill box for Luke Longhurst to bury the ball
from 12 yards out.

Epsom
& Ewell at half-time were forced to bring on our only substitute Omar
Lewis for Sam Braggins who had picked up a shin injury. Burgess Hill made it
3-1 on 51 minutes when Louis Pople was left to have a free run to head home a
corner.

Jamie
Ingham was on hand to collect a cross on 57 minutes to stab the ball home
from 8 yards out past Humphries. Burgess Hill's Thomas Yeates hit a 25 yards
shot on 63 minutes that Epsom keeper Ed Humphries allowed to drop under the
bar.

Epsom
& Ewell were reduced to 10 men on 65 minutes with a shoulder injury, and
were further reduced on 78 minutes when Stuart Price who had already harshly
seen a yellow card in the first half was slightly late in a challenge leaving
the referee no option but to show him a second yellow and the inevitable red
card.

The
resulting free-kick 35 yards out seeing John Lansdale hit a rasping shot that
left Ed Humphries motionless. Will Taylor was forced to limp off the field on
85 minutes with a leg injury seeing Epsom have to face the last five minutes
plus injury time with only 8 players.

Whyteleafe
4-0 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
19th September 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team managed to hold out for 57 minutes of tonight's
match away at Whyteleafe but then managed to concede four goals in the space
of 11 minutes as the defence fell apart.

The
first goal seeing the ball pumped into the box from a corner, the Whyteleafe
striker being allowed to bring the ball down, turn and fire low past Ed
Humphries.

Number
two from a free kick saw two Whyteleafe players allowed to run through to put
pressure on Ed Humphries who was left deceived from the bounce off the ball.

Number
three saw a unmarked header on the back post and number four saw a shot from
the edge of the box come back off the foot of the post to the Whyteleafe
player to finish low.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-6 Sutton United

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
3rd October 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's Youth managed to surprise their counterparts for the first 20
minutes but Sutton United eventually run out comfortable 6-2 winners at
Merland Rise.

Epsom
& Ewell took the game from the start to Sutton, and the relentless
pressure that resulted in seven corners in the first 15 minutes eventually
resulted in an opening goal for the E's on 13 minutes, Paul Birch appearing
to get the final touch but it could have been anyone of five players to
scramble it over the line from a corner.

The
lead was doubled on 15 minutes a long ball down the left wing seeing Paul
Birch get his boot to the ball ahead of the on rushing keeper to chip the
ball into the empty net from the edge of the box. Sutton were back in the
game on 20 minutes, the Epsom defence allowing the Sutton striker to cruise
in through a gap left and steer the ball past debutant keeper Jack
Witts.

Epsom
& Ewell looked likely to go in at half-time with a 2-1 lead  but
Sutton drew level in the third minute of first half injury time, a free-kick
seeing Epsom & Ewell fail to mark allowing two Sutton players to arrive
at the back post to tap the ball past Witts.

There
was still enough time for Sutton to make it 3-2 at half-time, Stuart Price
was adjudged to have kicked out at a Sutton player in the penalty area in the
sixth minute of injury time, the penalty just too high for Witts. Sutton
United made it 4-2 on 52 minutes with a cut inside into a gapping hole
allowing the U's striker to find the inside of the net from 10 yards
out.

Aaron
Williams decided to take a Sutton player out in the 63rd minute seeing
another penalty awarded and converted and the sixth occurred in the second
minute of injury time when poor defending allowed a tap in at the back post.

Epsom
& Ewell 4-2 Westfield

Surrey Midweek Floodlit
Cup First Round

Wednesday
17th October 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell Youth pick up first win of season in Surrey Cup

Epsom
& Ewell's Youth picked up their first win of the season with a 4-2 Surrey
Midweek Under 18 Floodlit Cup first round win at Merland Rise in the first of
the three meetings between the two clubs in the next four weeks.

Epsom
& Ewell started the stronger and managed to miss three one on one's, hit
the woodwork twice and force four excellent saves out of the Westfield keeper
in the first half an hour but managed to find themselves a goal down against
the run of play with Westfield's first excursion into the Epsom box when poor
defensive marking allowed the visitors player to roll the ball home after
Jack Witts had made a save to his left to deflect the ball away from
goal.

The
visitors lead only lasted for 27 seconds, Nick Ashbolt picking up the ball
from the restart to hit a rasping shot from 40 yards out that found the top
corner, and it was the same player two minutes later that managed to find the
same top corner with another spectacular shot from 30 yards out this time.
Westfield drew level again on the stroke of half-time when a free-kick on the
edge of the box was curled over the wall into the top corner of the net.

Epsom
& Ewell came out for the second half still with the upper hand and any
nerves that they might have had were eased on 50 minutes, the ball finding
Will Taylor on the edge of the box, he managed to juggle with the ball in the
air, setting himself up to hit a crisp volley past the Westfield keeper from
15 yards out.

The
nerves were further eased on 57 minutes, Sam Braggins rolling the ball into
the path of Will Taylor who got to the ball ahead of the Westfield keeper
allowing himself to roll the ball home from 12 yards out under the advancing
keeper's body.

Westfield
had an opportunity to reduce the arrears on 79 minutes when a ball over the
top of the Epsom defence caught the Epsom defenders napping, although the
Westfield striker managed to take the ball around Jack Witts who had pushed
the Westfield player away from goal, the shot was cleared away by a
combination of Lloyd Marsella and Dayle Honess.

Both
Will Taylor and Nick Ashbolt had chances to get their hat-tricks in the final
10 minutes but the Westfield keeper was able to make comfortable saves from
both players efforts. Nick Ashbolt who had already been booked bizarrely
received a second yellow card in the first minute of injury time, a Westfield
free-kick striking the Epsom player stuck in the middle of the wall where it
had been positioned by the referee.

In
the next round of the Surrey Midweek Floodlit Under 18 Cup we will be away to
either Sutton United or Cobham.

Westfield
2-2 Epsom & Ewell

Grant McLellan Cup First
Round First Leg

Wednesday
24th October 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team left Westfield disappointed for not finishing off
the tie in the first leg and for conceding silly late goals that has set the
tie up for the second leg at Merland Rise in a couple of weeks.

Epsom
& Ewell managed to open the scoring on 30 minutes when Sam Braggins
picked up a through ball down the left wing, managed to get into the box and
finish low past the Westfield keeper. Epsom keeper Jack Witts had to be on
top form on 40 minutes to come out and perform a block save to keep Epsom's
lead intact.

Epsom
& Ewell had plenty of chances in the second half to extend the lead
further but poor touches saw the ball either run away or not sit up for a
shot on target. Westfield took advantage of the Epsom missed chances to draw
level when a movement of nearly ten passes ended up with the ball finding a
Westfield striker left unmarked to dispatch the ball past a helpless Jack
Witts from 8 yards out.

The
equaliser saw the match turn niggly as Westfield were first to be reduced to
ten men when one of there players decided to let the referee know what he
thought of his decision on 86 minutes at the top of his voice that could have
been heard probably in Woking High Street, but the numbers were evened up on
88 minutes when at an Epsom & Ewell free-kick waiting to be taken, Aaron
Williams decided to join the wall and back heel his studs into the shins of a
Westfield player in full view of the referee earning him a straight red.

The
same free-kick when eventually taken saw Luke Longhurst's shot take a big
deflection off the wall to take it past the home keeper's dive. There was
still time for Epsom & Ewell to squander the lead for the second time in
the sixth minute of injury time when the ball was unnecessarily put out for a
corner which was put into the middle of the box, the Epsom defenders freezing
allowing a Westfield player to fire home.

Sam
Braggins had one final chance to get Epsom back ahead again in the tie when
he was presented with the ball but the ball managed to squirm under his foot
and close enough to the Westfield keeper to make a save.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-4 Chipstead

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
31st October 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell lost their latest Southern Youth League East Division encounter
at home to Chipstead tonight 4-1.

Epsom
& Ewell managed to take a second minute lead when Stuart Hunter's cross
floated over the Chipstead keeper into the visitors goal. Chipstead pulled
level on 12 minutes, poor Epsom defending allowing the Chips striker in to
bury a shot past Jack Witts.

A
misplaced back pass on 37 minutes by Lloyd Marsella gave the ball straight to
a Chipstead player to have a clear run at Epsom's goal, Jack Witts blocking
the first shot but no Epsom players were tracking back as the Chipstead
player buried the second opportunity.

A
volley from the edge of the box on 39 minutes saw the score line become 3-1
and Chipstead added a fourth in first half injury time, the Chipstead player
being left unmarked at head home the free-kick.

Epsom
& Ewell's Will Taylor came the closest to finding the net in the second
half as Chipstead went through the motions in the second half to claim the
three points.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-2 South Park

Southern Youth League
Cup First Round

Wednesday
7th November 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell Youth find themselves out of the Southern Youth League Cup rather
than South Park as the luck was against Epsom & Ewell at Merland Rise
tonight.

Epsom
& Ewell took a deserved 10th minute lead when Dayle Honess rising at the
back post from a corner floated the ball home over the South Park keeper with
a header from 10 yards out. South Park were awarded a penalty on 25 minutes
with Paul Birch being accused of pulling back an opposition players shirt,
the penalty converted past Jack Witts.

Epsom
& Ewell then managed to see headers off on corners on 32 and 38 minutes
blocked by South Park players. Another corner on 56 minutes saw the ball
flicked on by Luke Longhurst, the ball managing to evade the final touch of
one of any four Epsom players arriving at the back post. James Voisey should
have put Epsom & Ewell ahead on 63 minutes when the ball was swung into
the box, Voisey managing unmarked to get his shot away from 8 yards out but
the South Park keeper managed to get his outstretched boot in the way to
deflect it on to the underside of the bar, the ball falling kindly for a
South Park defender to clear it.

With
the tie being dominated by the attacking of Epsom & Ewell it looked like
there was only one side likely to score.

South
Park in their second break away attack of the match forced Jack Witts into a
save on 83 minutes, and totally against the run of play South Park managed to
score the winner cruelly for Epsom in the second minute of injury time with a
move down the left wing that saw a ball crossed into the box for an unmarked
player to run on to and convert past Witts.

Epsom
& Ewell 3-2 Westfield (after extra time - Epsom & Ewell win 5-4 on
aggregate)

Grant McLellan Cup First
Round Second Leg

Tuesday
13th November 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's Youth team managed to grind-out a hard fought 5-4 win on
aggregate against Westfield after extra-time on the coldest night at Merland
Rise so far this season.

Epsom
& Ewell who were kicking themselves for not coming away from Ember Lane
three weeks ago with an advantage were left ruing countless missed and
fluffed efforts in front of goal again tonight that should have seen the tie
won in normal time but eventually managed to scrape an extra-time
winner.

Westfield
were first to get their name on the score sheet after 5 minutes, Dayle Honess
pulling back a Westfield player in the Epsom box by his shirt seeing a
penalty awarded and converted past jack Witts by Clayton Plumell.

The
E's youth were back in the match on 11 minutes, Aaron Williams managing to
flight a shot from the edge of the box over Westfield 'keeper Dan Hatton -
almost a carbon copy of the goal scored by Dan Moorhouse the previous night
for the E's reserves. Epsom & Ewell were guilty of missing chances on 20
and 25 minutes when the ball would not sit up in the Westfield box for a
clean shot to be applied.

Epsom
were ahead on 31 minutes, right back Chris Day joining an attack down the
right wing hit a shot from 30 yards out wide on the right that flew into the
top corner despite the attempts of Dan Hatton to try to push it over for a
corner. The tie was far from over despite Epsom holding a half-time lead as
the Epsom defence was giving too many passes away far too easily.

Westfield
managed to get themselves back on level terms on 61 minutes against the run
of play, a long clearance by the visitors defence saw all four Epsom
defenders watch as the ball was brought down by the Westfield player, nobody
closed the player or ball down as he was able to lay the ball into the path
of Mark Waring to apply an easy finish from 12 yards out.

Epsom
& Ewell manager Steve Butt made alterations to the defence and midfield
by bringing on Lloyd Marsella and Stuart Price to stop the sloppy passes
being given away, the changes made Epsom dominate the final twenty minutes
but James Voisey, Will Taylor and Paul Birch were all unable to keep their
shots down as they flew over the crossbar.

When
the temperature at Merland Rise is sub-zero, what you do not want is to spend
more time than necessary watching the football, unfortunately al the
supporters had to endure an extra thirty minutes as the score was a stalemate
at ninety minutes - the referee playing precisely three seconds of injury
time at the end of the ninety minutes!

The
extra-time period was a pulsating affair as both teams went for the win and
both appearing to change to a formation of 3-4-4 - Epsom peppering the
Westfield goal more often that the Westfield breaks but Jack Witts in the
Epsom goal had to be alert to smoother out the potential chances with the
long balls over the top of the Epsom defence.

Epsom
centre-back Dayle Honess came closest to scoring in the first period of
extra-time as a corner was not cleared the ball falling to Honess four yards
out but he managed to allow the ball to run over the top of his boot laces
and hit his shin, the ball bouncing straight into the hands of Westfield
keeper Dan Hatton.

The
winning goal came on 107 minutes, Paul Birch picking up the ball on the edge
of the area and letting fly with a shot that Westfield keeper Dan Hatton was
unable to reach with the dive to his right. Nick Ashbolt had a shot from
distance on the right wing that Westfield keeper Hatton managed to hold on to
after 111 minutes, any slip ups and James Voisey was in position to
finish.

Will
Taylor managed to turn a Stuart Price cross from the left wing wide of the
far post with a header on 114 minutes and Westfield should have taken the
match into penalty kicks on 117 minutes, the ball being crossed in the Epsom
box, both home defenders failed to get their boot on to the ball but the
Westfield player arriving on the back post managed to have a fresh air shot
seeing the ball roll out for a goal kick near the corner flag.

Banstead
Athletic 4-0 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Friday
14th December 2007

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Makeshift
Youth defeated by Banstead

Epsom
& Ewell were forced into making a number of changes to the side this
evening including giving two new players their first starts and putting
Andreas McKenzie between the sticks as the three registered keepers were all
unavailable either through work or suspension.

Sam
Braggins was also unavailable as he had been called on Thursday night into
the first team squad for the match at Horley on Saturday. Banstead took a
third minute lead, the ball being floated into the Epsom box, the volley from
15 yards out flying past McKenzie. Banstead were two up on 39 minutes, a
speculative 20 yard shot flying over McKenzie who managed to get a hand to
the shot but was unable to prevent the ball going in off the underside of the
crossbar.

Banstead
were gifted a third in injury time at the end of the first half, the referee
seeing a shirt pull in the box resulting in a spot kick that sent McKenzie
the wrong way. Banstead made it four on 56 minutes, a long goal kick straight
down the middle of the field seeing the Banstead player get on the better
side of Max Rands to hit a dipping volley over McKenzie into the top corner
of the net.

Epsom
& Ewell came close in the second half through Luke Longhurst and Will
Taylor but Banstead keeper Joss Breeden was able to make comfortable saves.
The game could have finished 8-0 without excellent second half saves by
Andreas McKenzie to keep the score line down.

Croydon
2-0 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Monday
14th January 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell Youth lost 2-0 away at Croydon with a much improved performance
than previous showings this season.

Both
sides had opportunities to open the scoring in the first half where the score
line could have been easily 3-3 at half-time but Croydon sealed the win with
two quick fire goals on 70 and 74 minutes to secure all three points.

Dorking
4-2 Epsom & Ewell (after extra time)

Grant McLellan Cup
Quarter Final

Thursday
7th February 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
fightback peters out in extra-time

Epsom
& Ewell had a spirited fightback in the Grant McLellan Youth Cup
Quarter-Final at Dorking tonight but eventually ended up losing 4-2 after
extra-time.

Dorking
took a 16th minute lead when a through ball saw the Epsom defence fail to
clear the ball, the ball finding the run of the home striker to collect and
fire home past Jack Witts.

Epsom
& Ewell failed to create an effort on goal in the first half and a change
around at half time saw Epsom & Ewell come out in the second half and
have a good go which saw them rewarded on 62 minutes, Chris Ashbolt managing
to fire home.

Dorking
were awarded a penalty on 81 minutes when their player was brought down by
Armand Gao Bi Ta. Epsom & Ewell were handed an extra-time life line when
staring the exit door in the face, Max Rands volleying the ball home into the
roof of the net from 25 yards out in the third minute of injury time.

A
blank first period of extra-time, then saw Epsom & Ewell reduced to ten
men when Sam Braggins was shown a second yellow card with ten left and
Dorking scored two quick fire goals to ease them into a home semi-final
against Warlingham.

Chipstead
0-1 Epsom & Ewell (abandoned 77 minutes - police intervention!)

Southern Youth League

Thursday
14th February 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth were denied their first win of the season at Chipstead
this evening by the local police's intervention on 77 minutes.

Epsom
& Ewell had taken an 11th minute lead through Will Taylor who could have
doubled the lead on 27 minutes except for last ditch defending to clear the
ball off the line. Epsom & Ewell looked very comfortable to hold on for
the three points when the large police presence which had been at the ground
for an hour decided to enter the field of play to arrest four of the
Chipstead team - as the home side had made three substitutions and only had
seven players remaining the referee had no option but to abandon the
match.

The
incident and a decision whether the result stands will be discussed at the
Southern Youth League's meeting next Monday evening.

Sutton
United 0-0 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
20th February 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell Youth managed to pick up their first league point away at Gander
Green Lane against league leaders Sutton United with a highly thrilling and
entertaining goal less draw just seven weeks after being humiliated nine nil
at the same venue.

Epsom
& Ewell were under the cosh for the first ten minutes as the home side
burst out of the blocks with the first venture by Epsom into the Sutton half
being registered in the thirteenth minute which showed the level of pressure
soaked up. James Voisey saw an effort on 16 minutes from 10 yards out blocked
by the Sutton keeper and he was gifted a ball in the 48th minute after the
home keeper collided with one of his own players, Voisey rolling the ball
just wide of the far post by inches.

The
grit and determination of the performance of the youth team saw them prevent
Sutton to one effort on goal on 84 minutes that forced Jack Witts into an
excellent double save with his legs and grind out a deserved point.

Mole
Valley Predators 0-0 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
28th February 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth made it two goalless draws in a row but will be kicking
themselves for not pressing home a man advantage.

Mole
Valley Predators were reduced to ten men on 27 minutes when a late tackle
followed by the reaction afterwards by the home player saw him shown his
marching orders. Epsom & Ewell threw everything at the home side in the
second half and nearly nicked it in injury time when James Voisey was sent
clear, his effort finding the toe cap of the Predators keeper's boot to tip
the ball on to the face of the post and no Epsom player was able to get to
the loose ball quickly enough to score the winner.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-2 Banstead Athletic

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
5th March 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against Banstead Athletic
this evening.

The
match looked destined to be a fourth consecutive draw until the 68th minute
when the visitors took advantage of loose defending to convert a ball from 8
yards out. The win was sealed in the fifth minute of injury time a long ball
was failed to be dealt with allowing the Banstead player running on to the
ball to fire home from 10 yards out.

Epsom
& Ewell were denied goals on 55 minutes and 82 minutes thanks to
spectacular goal line clearances by Banstead.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-1 Whyteleafe

Southern Youth League

Thursday
20th March 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team gained another point with a late equaliser in very
testing blustery conditions at Merland Rise.

Although
a steady spray of rain had fallen throughout the day, the pitch was playable
and partly sticky. There was few opportunities from either side in the first
half, Jack Witts being forced into two low saves and Aaron Faluakjo blasted
his effort from 20 yards out just wide of the far post.

Whyteleafe
took the lead with a minute remaining before half-time, a poor defensive
clearance falling to a Whyteleafe on the deg of the box to hit a shot that
found the back of the net off the inside of the near post despite Jack Witts
attempts to get across to the ball with a dive to his left.

Whyteleafe
seemed to be going through the motions in the second half as they looked
comfortable to hold on for a 1-0 win but Epsom & Ewell's Kwambena Osei
was on the end of a floated high ball just inside the Whyteleafe on 86
minutes to volley home from 12 yards out.

James
Voisey two minutes later was given the opportunity to gain Epsom's first win
of the season as a threaded ball saw him sent clear, although he beat the
'leafe keeper he dragged his effort into the side netting.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-7 Warlingham

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
26th March 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
undeservedly thumped by leaders Warlingham

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team ended on the end of a 7-0 thumping but the true
story of the match was far different.

A
very open close encounter saw Epsom & Ewell playing the best football
seen all season and had the upper hand on the league leaders for the first 35
minutes but all the hard work was undone by four sloppy mistakes that saw
Warlingham crack in shots from the edge of the box in the 35th, 37th, 40th
and 41st minutes that all flew over a helpless Jack Witts - first team keeper
Paul Borg probably would not have got to any of the shots either.

With
the match killed off the second half was a drab affair as Warlingham did
their goal difference a boost by adding a fifth on 56 minutes a through ball
sent their striker clear for him to round Witts and slot the ball home, the
sixth occurring on 64 minutes as poor defensive marking saw a Warlingham
player left unmarked in the box to turn the ball home from 10 yards out and
number seven on 71 minutes was a carbon copy of the fifth.

Chipstead
2-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
3rd April 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The
youth team came away from Chipstead with a 2-2 draw. Epsom & Ewell
manager Steve Butt used this match to try to mould the youth team for next
season as the majority of the players that will be too old going with the
Reserves instead this evening.

Epsom
& Ewell were moments away from recording their first league win of the
season but the Chips managed to score a third minute injury time equaliser.

Warlingham
3-0 Epsom & Ewell (played at Kiln Brow, Redhill F.C.)

Southern Youth League

Monday
21st April 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team completed their miserable league campaign without a
win as they were beaten 3-0 by league champions Warlingham at Redhill.

The
youth team having the worst possible start as the hosts opened the scoring
after just 7 seconds before going on to add two further goals in the second
half.

2008/09 Season

Pre-Season Round Up

Friendly

July/August
2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The
youth friendly at Merland Rise for the Youth saw them beaten 7-0 by Russell
Harmsworth's AFC Wimbledon side. Epsom & Ewell Youth's first run out saw
them concede a goal after 5 minutes and then a second on 26 minutes, although
the half-time score could have been greater if two shots that came off the
bar and bounced out had bounced the other way instead.

AFC
Wimbledon who were the fitter and provided the most entertaining football
seen this pre-season managed to score on 47, 49 and 53 minutes to dampen
Epsom spirits before adding the final two goals on 81 and 88 minutes. Epsom
nearly got a consolation goal in injury time when a shot from the edge of the
box was deflected on to the underside of the bar by the visitors keeper but
the ball bounced down and out.

Unfortunately
the Youth friendly at Epsom College against Cobham has had to be postponed,
Cobham were unable to raise a team and have personnel to take charge of the
team, additionally we have been unable to get match officials for the match
as a number of the supply leagues are having referee and referee assessors
meeting this Thursday

The
youth team played against Eltham Green College at the David Beckham Academy
where they picked up a 4-0 win, Rhidian Gautama, Chris Ashbolt, Jake Hill
& Joe Payne scoring for Epsom & Ewell.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-2 Greenwich Borough

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
27th August 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The
curse of Merland Rise struck again this evening as the Youth were pegged back
from being 2-0 up to finish level at 2-2 against Greenwich Borough.

Epsom
& Ewell took a 27th minute lead through Fernando Betancourt as he managed
to finish off a run that saw him cover around 25 yards before beating the
visitor’s keeper. The lead was doubled on 38 minutes as Rhidian Gautama was
on hand to stab the ball home after the Greenwich keeper had pulled off a
save from a header, the Greenwich keeper managing to collide with the post as
he made the save that saw him knocked unconscious.

Greenwich
were awarded a penalty on 42 minutes which was blazed over. Epsom's defence
switched off on 50 minutes as two Epsom defenders decided to leave it to each
other to clear, a Greenwich player nipping in to gain control of the ball and
then shoot low past Ed Humphries.

Epsom
& Ewell tried their hardest to regain the two goal cushion but a sloppy
pass presented the ball to a Greenwich player to run towards goal, the
visiting player deciding to have a shot from 15 yards out that managed to
find the smallest of gaps between Ed Humphries glove and his near post.

Westfield
0-3 Epsom & Ewell

F.A.Youth Cup
Preliminary Round

Wednesday
10th September 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's Youth team progressed in the FA Cup with a 3-0 win at Westfield
thanks to a first half blitz.

Epsom
& Ewell did not hang about in opening the scoring, Rhidian Gautama
finishing low on 5 minutes following Westfield defence failing to clear the
ball. The lead was doubled on 11 minutes, Fernando Betancourt, urged to
have a pop from the bench, his effort from 25 yards out finding the far
corner of the net.

Epsom
& Ewell should have extended the lead before we hit the third, Rhidian
Gautama with a reverse pass that sent Chris Brayne clear to round the home
keeper and slot home into the empty net from 10 yards out on 29 minutes.

Epsom
& Ewell should have added a fourth when Nathan Smith brought the ball
into the box and cut a low pass across the face of the six yard box, Rhidian
Gautama seeing his effort to prod the ball home blocked by a defender's boot
on 40 minutes. Ed Humphries

Epsom
& Ewell created a hatful of openings in the second half, the majority of
them ending with the assistant referees flag but Chris Brayne managed to
whistle an effort from 20 yards out just wide of the far upright on 58
minutes, Chris Ashbolt headed over on 70 minutes then looped another effort
over on 76 minutes, Stefan Appleby having the final chance on 86 minutes when
he managed to round the home keeper with the goal open but could only find
the side netting.

Epsom
& Ewell 5-0 Hassocks

F.A.Youth Cup First
Qualifying Round

Wednesday
24th September 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Five
star Epsom & Ewell progress in FA Youth Cup

Epsom
& Ewell's Youth team eased past Hassocks to book their place in the FA
Youth Cup sponsored by E.ON 2nd Qualifying Round with a 5-0 win on the main
pitch at Merland Rise.

Epsom
& Ewell looked the more threatening throughout the first half as Jack
Simpson in the Hassocks goal was the more busier but it took a bizarre
penalty award on 44 minutes for the opening goal to be scored, Rhidian
Gautama arriving on the back post slid in trying to beat Jack Simpson but the
Hassocks keeper blocked the effort with his chest and then plucked the loose
ball out of the air, everybody in the ground except the referee and his
assistant missed Simpson push the ball into Guatama's face as the Epsom
player tried to get to his feet. Chris Brayne from the spot executed an inch
perfect spot kick that Simpson was unable to reach.

Epsom
& Ewell were in full control during the second half, the lead was
extended on 51 minutes as inter-change play saw the ball played into the edge
of the box that saw the ball played through the Hassocks box, Rhidian Gautama
unleashing a powerful shot that rocketed into the roof of the net from 10
yards out.

Rhidian
Gautama scored his second and Epsom's third on 60 minutes, he appeared to
have taken the ball too wide collecting Fernando Betancourt's pass but he
turned inside his marker and unleashed a drilled shot from 12 yards out that
beat Jack Simpson on his near post.

The
fourth came on 68 minutes, Fernando Betancourt beating two Hassocks players
on the right wing before crossing low for substitute James Voisey who had
been on the field for less than two minutes but appeared a long way off-side
as he applied a finish from 8 yards out.

The
scoring was rounded off by James Voisey on 85 minutes, a diagonal pass seemed
to be going through to Jack Simpson in the Hassocks goal but the elongated
grass saw the ball slow down allowing Voisey chasing what looked like a lost
cause to get to the ball first to nudge it past Jack Simpson 15 yards out
allowing the ball to roll into the empty net.

St
Andrews 2-2 Epsom & Ewell (Played at Cobham F.C.)

Southern Youth League

Thursday
2nd October 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Off-par
Youth gain draw

Epsom
& Ewell's youth gained a 2-2 draw away against St. Andrews, the match
taking place at Cobham's ground, a point though being very fortunate with the
poor level of work rate by the Youth tonight that should have seen Epsom
beaten.

Things
started off well as Epsom took control of the match from the start as the
home keeper was forced into making a string of saves low down to his right
although St. Andrews gradually came into the match. Epsom & Ewell scored
the opener on 43 minutes, Nathan Smith letting rip with a shot from just
outside the box that sneaked inside the post.

James
Voisey connected with a header to a Nathan Smith cross in first half injury
time but he was unable to keep his effort down. It was Voisey again in the
opening thirty seconds of the second half that should have extended the lead
as he was on the end of a Nick Ashbolt cross that had evaded the home keeper,
Voisey had the simplest of tasks to put the ball in the net but somehow got
himself tangled up seeing him hook the ball clear instead of side footing the
ball home from 4 yards out, St. Andrews making no time lost in getting the
ball forward that saw their forward sneak behind the Epsom defence and Ed
Humphries anticipating the ball as he angled a shot past the Epsom keeper
into the unguarded net.

Worse
was to come on 68 minutes, four Epsom players failed to get a challenge in on
a St. Andrews midfield as he went on a run before cracking a shot in off the
far post from 25 yards out. The next ten minutes saw no team unity, the team
work was lacking and Epsom players trying to take on too many of the home
players as too many wanted to play for themselves.

Epsom
& Ewell were awarded a penalty on 82 minutes, Rhidian Gautama having just
come on as a substitute turning into the box but being brought down, Chris
Brayne sending the home keeper the wrong way from the spot. Epsom had chances
to sneak a win with a couple of late efforts, but it was far too much but far
too late.

If
the Youth team want to get past Kingstonian they are going to have to play
for the whole ninety for each other and all be concentrating on the matter in
hand.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-1 Kingstonian (after extra time - lost 2-4 on penalties)

F.A.Youth Cup Second
Qualifying Round

Wednesday
8th October 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Wednesday
night saw the Youth team bow out of the FA Youth Cup with a 4-2 defeat on
penalties, Epsom & Ewell were leading with only a couple of minutes left
when Kingstonian scored an equaliser.

The
deadlock could not be broken in extra-time and it was the K's that were
successful with their kicks from the penalty mark.

Camberley
Town 2-2 Epsom & Ewell (after extra time - won 5-4 on penalties)

Surrey Midweek Floodlit
Cup First Round

Wednesday
22nd October 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell had the majority of the possession in the early stages and took a
deserved lead on 20 minutes through Chris Ashbolt. Epsom & Ewell were
reduced to ten men two minutes before the break when Chris Brayne was booked
and then within five seconds receive a second.

Epsom
& Ewell were reduced to nine men on 59 minutes when Chris Ashbolt was
sent off for a second yellow card despite cleanly winning the ball in a
tackle, the decision seeing one of the Epsom bench personnel also removed
from the technical area.

Epsom
& Ewell looked very comfortable to hold on to the lead as the match went
into injury time, Camberley though managed in the second minute of injury
time to force the ball over the line after a sustained run that saw four
weary Epsom defenders unable to get a tackle in.

The
game looked as though it had gone from Epsom's grasp on 115 minutes when
Camberley took the lead with a shot from 20 yards out that found the top
corner but with time running out and the game in injury time with the referee
moments away from putting whistle to mouth, Paul Birch put in a final
attempted cross that looked destined to find the home keeper's gloves but the
ball had pace on it and James Voisey managed to get his head in the way of
the ball to deflect the ball past the home keeper to send the match to a
penalty lottery.

The
toss resulted in the kicks being taken at the old entrance end of the ground
with Camberley going first - each of the first eight spot kicks were all
converted, the next three penalties were all struck straight down the middle
of the goal resulting in the keeper's blocking with their legs, James Voisey
converting Epsom's sixth penalty to win the match.

Raynes
Park Vale 5-3 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Monday
3rd November 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
go down at Vale

Epsom
& Ewell's youth went down 5-3 away at Raynes Park Vale this evening,
Chris Brayne gave Epsom & Ewell a fifth minute lead from the penalty spot
after Chris Ashbolt had been brought down in the box but the lead lasted just
under 45 seconds, Raynes Park Vale with a long ball, Ed Humphries being drawn
off his line allowing the home player to slot home past the advancing Epsom
keeper.

Raynes
Park Vale took the lead on 39 minutes from a close range header off a wide
free-kick that was ordered to be re-taken in mysterious circumstances, the
original free-kick being cleared cleanly by Epsom's defence. Raynes Park Vale
extended the lead in the sixth minute of first half injury time from the
penalty spot when the Raynes Park forward was deemed to have been fouled in
the Epsom box despite the tackle being cleanly won by the Epsom defender.

Chris Ashbolt reduced the arrears by a
quickly taken free-kick from 20 yards whilst the home side were still
marshalling their wall on 60 minutes. Raynes Park Vale regained a two goal
cushion on 73 minutes, Raynes Park Vale's player appeared to use his hand to
control the ball as he collected a cross, the Epsom defence stopping to
appeal as the home player fired home past Humphries, Mark Deacons
remonstrations earning himself a straight red card.

The
home side added a fifth on 80 minutes as a looping header found the underside
of the crossbar allowing the ball to bounce in. Within seconds of the goal
one pylon of floodlights failed, after consulting with both teams the referee
decided to play on.

Epsom
& Ewell scored a consolation goal in the fifth minute of injury time in
very gloomy conditions as the other pylon at the end Epsom were shooting
towards had tripped out in the third minute of injury time, Raynes Park not
clearing a free-kick allowing Paul Birch to scramble the ball home in a
crowded penalty area.

Epsom
& Ewell 5-3 Camberley Town

Southern Youth League
Cup First Round

Wednesday
12th November 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
complete double over Camberley

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team having conquered Camberley's Allied Counties Youth
League team in the Surrey Midweek Floodlight Cup last month completed the cup
double by defeating Camberley's Southern Youth League side who came into the
match with a 100% win record in the Southern Youth League this season by a
scoreline of 5-3 in the League Cup at Merland Rise.

Epsom
& Ewell took a second minute lead, Fernando Betancourt's pass seeing a
Camberley defender misjudge the bounce,  Rhidian Gautama nipping in and
firing low past the visitors keeper from 10 yards out. The lead should have
been doubled on 12 minutes by Gautama but his effort rebounded back off the
inside of the post. Fernando Betancourt was tripped inside the box allowing
Chris Brayne to step up to send the visitors keeper the wrong way.

Camberley
were awarded a penalty on 26 minutes after Dayle Honess was caught on the
wrong side of the ball but Ed Humphries pulled off a save to his left to keep
the two goal cushion in tact. Camberley stepped up a gear in the final ten
minutes of the match, a run down their right wing seeing the ball swept in
for an excellent curling effort into the top corner of the net from 10 yards
out on 36 minutes.

The
score line was equalled on 42 minutes, Epsom allowing a cross to come into
the box, a Camberley forward arrive to despatch a pin point finish into the
net from just inside the visitors box. Rhidian Gautama was presented with the
ball a minute later but his effort curled just wide of the far post.

The
second half turned into a traditional cup tie with guts and thunder as the
ball was taken end to end by both sides throughout. Epsom regained the lead
on 48 minutes, Rhidian Gautama noticing the visitors keeper off his line to
send the ball sailing over the stranded Camberley keeper and in off the
underside of the crossbar.

Camberley
came straight back and equalised on 52 minutes, a corner was half cleared, a
speculative shot that was going wide saw the Camberley player on the back
post perform what can only be described as a three-quarter belly flop to get
low enough to get his head to the ball to guide it home from 6 yards
out.

Epsom
& Ewell should have been back ahead through Chris Brayne but brave last
ditch goal keeping deflected a close range effort wide of the post on 62
minutes. James Voisey put Epsom back ahead on 70 minutes with a tap in from a
cross and Voisey was on hand to ghost in on 77 minutes with an unchecked run
to head home a Fernando Betancourt corner from 6 yards out.

Epsom
tried to find number six but were unable to breach the visitors defence
again.

Epsom
& Ewell 3-5 Merstham

Surrey Midweek Floodlit
Cup Second Round

Monday
17th November 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Brayne
hat-trick not enough to prevent Merstham from progressing

Chris
Brayne scored a hat-trick this evening for the youth team but it was not
enough to prevent Epsom from exiting the Surrey Midweek Floodlight Cup.

Merstham
took a 7th minute lead when a cross got caught in the wind, Joss Breedon
unable to take the ball cleanly as the ball fell loose, the Merstham player
putting the ball into the net on the third attempt after Breedon got his body
in the way for the first two attempts.

Chris
Brayne equalised on 14 minutes, his jinking run seeing him scuff a shot from
12 yards out that evaded the Merstham keeper's grasp. Merstham re-took the
lead on 21 minutes with a flying header that found the top corner from 12
yards out, Chris Brayne equalising on 28 minutes with a curling effort from
the edge of the box.

A
solo run and effort from Brayne secured his hat-trick on 38 minutes, he
managed to dart one way to go through two challenges before cutting back past
another the challenges before unleashing a curling effort from 20 yards out
that found the top corner of the net.

Merstham
equalised on 52 minutes, a drop ball seeing the Merstham player getting a
heavy contact on the ball, the Epsom defence assuming that the ball was for
the Epsom keeper but a Merstham forward raced on to the ball to fire past
Breedon from 12 yards out.

Merstham
re-took the lead on 67 minutes when a cross from the right wing was converted
from 10 yards out. Merstham sealed the win on 82 minutes from the penalty
spot.

Molesey
1-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
19th November 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
win first league match in 26 outings

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team secured their first league success in 26 outings at
Molesey tonight thanks to a 2-1 victory. There was little time to dwell on
the defeat less than 48 hours before at the hands of Merstham as Epsom &
Ewell's youth team were back in action, in direct contrast this was Molesey's
first match for a number of weeks.

Epsom
played well in the first half and should have been at least three or four
goals up at half-time against Molesey but turned round with only a slender
goal lead to our name, Chris Brayne with another spectacular goal where he
left off with his hat-trick on Monday night as he hit a dipping 25 yard shot
into the far top corner on 20 minutes.

Fernando
Betancourt doubled the Epsom lead on 55 minutes as he was played in by Chris
Ashbolt's through ball, Betancourt managing to take the ball wide of the
Molesey keeper to roll it home from 12 yards out. Molesey got a goal back on
the hour mark, Epsom sloppy with a clearance allowed a long range effort from
roughly 25 yards out that beat Ed Humphries.

Tiredness
that was kicking in combined with having to perform a reshuffle due to
injuries saw Epsom have to scrap for the final twenty minutes to keep Molesey
from scoring an equaliser but Epsom managed to hang on to gain the three
points.

Cobham
4-2 Epsom & Ewell

Grant McLellan Cup First
Round - First Leg

Monday
24th November 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The
youth team depleted due to a number of suspensions travelled to Cobham on
Monday evening in the Grant McLellan Youth Cup 1st Round 1st Leg and came
away with 4-2 deficit that they will go into the second leg with on Monday
evening at Merland Rise. Fernando Betancourt and Paul Birch scoring Epsom
& Ewell's goals.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-3 Cobham (lost 7-4 on aggregate)

Grant McLellan Cup First
Round - Second Leg

Monday
1st December 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
suffer harsh injury time heartbreak

Epsom
& Ewell Youth bowed out of the Grant McLellan Youth Cup 7-4 on aggregate
with Cobham winning on the night 3-2 but the score line was not a true
reflection of the match. Cobham lead after the first leg 4-2 and the first
half was a stalemate with Epsom looking the more likely to score but the
closest the deadlock came to being broken saw both keepers have to pull off
finger tip saves from distance shots that they managed to tip on to their
respective crossbars.

Epsom
reduced the arrears on 54 minutes when Chris Brayne having served a seven day
suspension last week continued where he left off a fortnight ago by hitting a
looping cross from 20 yards out that held up in the breeze which fell just
beneath the crossbar, although the Cobham keeper got his hand to the ball he
was unable to keep the ball out as he deflected the ball into the underside
of the crossbar.

Fernando
Betancourt was on the end of a cross on 55 minutes but he managed to side
foot the ball over from 4 yards out. Parity was restored on 71 minutes, a
Fernando Betancourt cross finding Jake Hill with a angled header into the
corner of the net from 6 yards out. Epsom went looking for the winner to
prevent extra-time and sustained pressure for the final twenty minutes saw
the Cobham side pegged back in their own half as desperate defending
prevented Epsom from getting a shot on target.

With
the tie looking likely to head for extra-time, Lewis Hockley was on the end
of a cross to volley the ball into the top corner from 15 yards out in the
first minute of injury time.

Epsom
went looking for another equaliser, James Voisey side footing an effort over
from 8 yards out and Rhidian Gautama hit a dipping shot from the edge of the
area in the fourth minute of injury time that was blocked with a double
handed parry, the loose ball being cleared upfield by Cobham eventually
finding Shaun Cheeseman to roll the ball under Joss Breedon to bring the
score line level on the night.

Cheeseman
was played in again during the sixth minute of injury time to score an almost
identical goal to gain an unlikely victory on the night for Cobham.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-2 Raynes Park Vale

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
3rd December 2008

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
have to settle for arctic point

The
youth team playing their second match inside 48 hours were forced to only
gain a home point against Raynes Park Vale in a 2-2 draw played in arctic
temperatures.

The
pitch was fine during the day but a quick drop in temperature as darkness
fell saw the game put into jeopardy but the referee deemed the pitch was soft
enough to play the match during his pre-match inspection.

Epsom
were the warmer of the sides from the start of the match as they adapted to
the -3c conditions the better and should have been at least four up by the
time James Layton-Hill opened the scoring with a header off a corner on 16
minutes.

Poor
defending allowed Raynes Park Vale to play the ball into the Epsom box on 22
minutes as they finished their first attack into the Epsom half with an
equaliser from 15 yards out, the finish seeing the ball put under Ed
Humphries who had narrowed the angle and somehow evade two Epsom defenders
who both had air shots in trying to clear the ball. Fernando Betancourt sent
an inch perfect pass into James Voisey's path as the Epsom striker rounded
the advancing visitors keeper to slot home from a narrow angle some 12 yards
out on 28 minutes.

Epsom
tired in the second half as Raynes Park Vale managed to get an equaliser on
65 minutes with a shot from just inside the area. The match concluding just
in time with the ground temperature down to -6c, if the match had started at
7:45pm rather than 7:30pm it probably would not have finished!

Epsom
& Ewell 2-1 Chipstead

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
14th January 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team managed to pick up three points at home with a 2-1
win against Chipstead at Merland Rise. Epsom & Ewell after a six week
layoff found themselves a goal down after 14 minutes as none of the Epsom
defenders managed to get a foot in allowing a shot to be fired on target by
the Chipstead striker from 15 yards out beating Ed Humphries on his near
post.

A
defensive clearance on 28 minutes saw James Voisey run 40 yards to be first
to collect a ball and manage to take the ball around the visitors keeper but
a Chipstead defender tracking back managed to put the Epsom striker off as
Voisey decided to pass the ball instead of firing the ball at the unguarded
net. Epsom were fortunate to be awarded a free-kick on 37 minutes, nobody
understanding why the referee had awarded the free-kick but Lee Davison
managed to curl the ball around the wall and into the bottom corner of the
net.

Epsom
& Ewell looked the more threatening during the second half and what
turned out to be the winner occurred on 65 minutes as Chris Brayne added yet
another contender to goal of the season as he hit a shot from 30 yards out
that found the top corner of the net leaving the Chipstead keeper rooted to
his line as a spectator.

Epsom
came close to adding a third with ten minutes to go as a shot was deflected
that forced the Chipstead keeper into a save that he was able to complete at
the second grasp of the ball. One lapse with five minutes left nearly allowed
two points to slip away as Chipstead were in but Ed Humphries having advanced
from his goal did just enough to put off the visitors player as the Chipstead
striker managed to fire the ball wide of an unguarded net.

Chipstead
1-1 Epsom & Ewell (abandoned 45 minutes - heavy snow)

Southern Youth League

Thursday
12th February 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

At
last a match played in February but it fails to reach a conclusion!

At
last one of the club's sides found themselves able to play as the Youth
fixture at Chipstead was declared able to be played on the Chips High Road
ground this evening, a light snow fall in early evening saw the home side
have to brush the snow off the pitch markings as the game took place with a
yellow match ball.

Chipstead
took advantage of poor Epsom defending to take a 6th minute lead with a low
shot past Ed Humphries, Dayle Honess should have scored an equaliser off a
corner on 22 minutes that managed to bounce through the box, Honess' effort
from 6 yards out managing to get stuck between the thighs of the home
keeper.

The
final ten minutes of the first half were played in heavy snow falling from
the skies, Epsom & Ewell were starting to look the stronger side and got
a deserved equaliser on 38 minutes as Fernando Betancourt's pass out to the
wing found James Voisey, his cross in from wide seeing the Chipstead keeper
unable to get full control of the ball as it squirmed away with from him with
the help of the snowy pitch as the ball ran straight to Luke Longhurst to tap
home from 4 yards out.

Four
Chipstead volunteers were on the pitch sweeping the snow from around the
pitch markings from the start of the half-time interval but the centre line
and the markings in one box disappeared again within two minutes of the
volunteers efforts and therefore the referee decided to abandon the match -
additional consideration was taken for safety of players, match officials and
spectators in getting home in worsening conditions on ungritted country
roads.

Crawley
Down 1-2 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League
Cup Second Round

Thursday
19th February 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
progress with second half double

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team progressed to the next round of the Southern Youth
League Cup with a 2-1 win at Crawley Down. Epsom & Ewell managers James
Deacons and Russell Banyard found themselves without a recognised keeper due
to Ed Humphries being on a ski trip and Josh Breedon having joined the army
meaning Paul Birch had to don the gloves.

Jimmy
Majinya was rested after his exploits in the reserves on Monday and probable
appearances this Saturday and next Monday for the reserves add to that Dayle
Honess was on an overseas half-term holiday meaning that a couple of the
defenders that have been on the fringe were given their chance with a
starting place.

Additionally,
Banyard and Deacons decided to take a leaf out of Lyndon's managerial book by
rest their more experienced midfielders and forwards for Monday's fixture at
Raynes Park Vale allowing more fringe players to get their chance in the
starting line-up - at half-time their selection strategy was probably being
regretted as in the opening six minutes of the game only Paul Birch had
touched the ball for the visitors, we had conceded a poor goal on 26 minutes
as a corner saw Paul Birch collect and then drop the ball resulting in a
series of powderpuff attempted clearances that saw Crawley Down eventually
stab the ball home at the fifth attempt.

The
first half Epsom performance could only be described as abysmal and probably
the worst since the youth team was reformed in 2002 - if Crawley Down had
been better in front of goal they could have easily notched up double figures
in the first half alone.

Epsom
& Ewell from the third pass of the second half stamped their authority on
the remainder of the match as the same side that looked so bad in the first
half suddenly clicked and gelled together, speculation was that the managers
had given the players a roasting at half-time which they denied after the end
of the game.

Epsom
& Ewell were level 91 seconds into the second half, Rhidian Gautama
forcing a low blocking save out of the home keeper, the loose ball looping up
for Epsom midfielder Nathan Smith in a supporting run to head home from 6
yards out. Epsom could and should have been further ahead by the time that
the winning goal occurred on 65 minutes as chances came and went, Chris
Ashbolt riding a number of attempted tackles in a bursting run inside the
Crawley Down half, his shot from just outside the box taking once bounce some
5 yards in front of the keeper's dive to his right and skidding on the wet
and greasy surface past the home keeper to find the bottom corner.

Epsom
sent on Fernando Betancourt and James Voisey to try to secure the win with a
third late on, Voisey nearly getting the third on 84 minutes with a cross
from deep on the right wing that turned into a shot that surprised the home
keeper who was in serious trouble that required him to back pedal
frantically, the ball clearing the bar by the matter of centimetres as it
found the roof of the net.

Paul
Birch in the Epsom goal had an inspired second half as he commanded his box
confidently to claim all balls that arrived in the box but he pulled off two
fantastic top drawer saves in the closing five minutes of the match to
prevent the tie going into extra-time, firstly a rising volley from 25 yards
out on 87 minutes that look destined to sneak under the bar saw Birch manage
to deflect the ball over and moments later a home corner saw lapse
concentration when marking allowing a Crawley Down player arriving at the
back post unmarked to get a powerful downward header in but Birch was in the
right place to make a diving save to his left.

Raynes
Park Vale 4-1 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Monday
23rd February 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The
youth team travelled to Raynes Park Vale for the replay of the original
league match declared null and void due to them playing Crystal Palace first
team striker Sean Scanlan in the original match in November.

Epsom
& Ewell took a 36th minute lead through Jimmy Majinya who went on a solo
run from just inside the home half, the Epsom defender getting two lucky
breaks as the ball came back to him twice, Majinya finishing off with a
drilled shot from 12 yards out.

The
lead lasted only two minutes as lax Epsom defending allowed Raynes Park Vale
to score with an angled shot into the far corner. A mad five minutes between
the 49th and 54th minutes saw the home side seal a win with three quick
goals, a corner on 49 minutes was turned in on the far post with Epsom
defenders having a genuine claim for offside as the home player was standing
almost on the goal line.

Raynes
Park made it three on 52 minutes as Epsom had kamikaze defending that allowed
the home player to get a cross into the box, two defenders then both missed
the ball allowing it to reach the home player arriving on the back to fire
home.

A
through ball on 54 minutes saw Ed Humphries come rushing off his line to try
to claim but he was beaten to the ball by a home striker who flicked it past
Humphries, the lose ball being rolled into the empty net from 8 yards out

Epsom
& Ewell 4-4 Croydon

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
11th March 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
snatch late draw in eight goal thriller

Epsom
& Croydon battled out an eight goal thriller at Merland Rise this evening
in a dress rehearsal for the League Cup Quarter-Final in a fortnight back at
Merland Rise. Epsom & Ewell took a 6th minute lead when Paul Birch hit a
shot from 30 yards out that whistled past a motionless Croydon keeper.

The
lead was doubled on 16 minutes when Fernando Betancourt was played in
allowing him to execute a deft chip over the advancing keeper from just
inside the box. Croydon reduced the arrears within a minute when poor Epsom
defending allowed the ball to be cut back for a finish to be executed from 6
yards out. The score line was level on 37 minutes when Croydon broke the home
offside trap, a low shot from 12 yards out beating Ed Humphries.

Epsom
& Ewell retook the lead on 50 minutes when a corner was only half
cleared, Jimmy Majinya hitting a powerful half volley that managed to go
through the Croydon keeper's body. The lead only lasted for 48 seconds as a
speculative shot from 25 yards out bounced in after clipping the near post
and Croydon took the lead on 80 minutes as a shot from just inside the box
saw the ball appear to trickle through Humphries.

Epsom
& Ewell Youth manager Russell Banyard changed the formation in the final
minutes following an injury to Paul Birch as he went 3-5-2, the gamble paid
off almost immediately as Epsom broke the visitors offside trap on 89 minutes
allowing James Voisey to angle the ball into the net past the Croydon keeper
from 12 yards out.

Both
sides came close to scoring a winner in injury time but a draw was probably
the fairest result.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-4 St Andrews

Southern Youth League

Monday
16th March 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team went down to a 4-2 defeat at home to St. Andrews
tonight. Epsom & Ewell took a first minute lead as Chris Brayne floated a
free-kick home from just outside the box, Epsom & Ewell should have been
out of sight by the time St. Andrews drew level on 26 minutes as lax marking
allowed the visiting forward to roll his marker and fire home off the
post.

St.
Andrews took a 62nd minute as a volley from outside the box caught Ed
Humphries stationery on his line assuming the ball was going over for a goal
kick only for the ball to dip in under the crossbar. Alec Tuppen managed to
get the better of the visiting defence to side foot an equaliser on 67
minutes.

A
calamity of errors allowed the visitors to gain the lead again on 82 minutes,
a St. Andrews cross into the box saw a defensive header loop up in the air,
Epsom keeper Ed Humphries instead of claiming an easy catch decided to punch,
the ball finding a visiting player to powerful head the ball back past
Humphries into an unguarded net.

The
visitors wrapped up the victory in the second minute of injury time as a
free-kick crept inside the far post from just inside the home box.

Colliers
Wood United 4-4 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
19th March 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
scrape another point with dramatic late equaliser in another 8 goal thriller

Epsom
& Ewell's youth were in action for the second time inside 72 hours away
at Colliers Wood United this evening.

Epsom
& Ewell looked the most threatening in the early exchanges but it was the
hosts that took a 13th minute lead when Stefan Appleby got his legs mixed up
seeing him play the ball into the path of a home striker to stride away, and
hit a rasping shot over Ed Humphries but just underneath the crossbar.

Epsom
were level on 15 minutes, an Epsom corner was only half cleared seeing the
ball fall to Jimmy Majinya to finish with a powerful header. Colliers Wood
re-took the lead on 31 minutes from close range but the equaliser was scored
on 38 minutes for Epsom when Alec Tuppen got the better of his marker to have
just enough time to fire low past the home keeper from 12 yards out.

Epsom
& Ewell could not manage to hold on until half-time as Colliers Wood
United took advantage of another comedy of Epsom errors in defence as three
shots from the hosts were all half blocked but the ball was eventually
prodded home over the goal line from roughly 4 yards out on 43 minutes.

Epsom
equalised for the third time on 66 minutes as James Voisey turned his marker
to collect a ball over the home defence, Voisey's first effort coming off the
post back to him where he made no mistake the second time around to bury the
ball from 10 yards out.

With
Russell Banyard taking credit for the changes last week at home to Croydon it
was James Deacons turn as he put Luke Longhurst on for the final 25 minutes
and changed the formation as we managed to win a string of 8 corners in a row
and looked very threatening but alas it was Colliers Wood that took the lead
for the fourth time on the night after 82 minutes when naive defending
allowed the Colliers Wood striker to power between two
defenders allowing himself enough time to round Humphries and slide it
home from roughly 9 yards out.

Epsom
were reduced to ten men on 88 minutes as Chris Ashbolt was shown a red card
for a challenge but Epsom & Ewell were able to win a penalty in injury
time as Alec Tuppen was taken down from behind in the box. Epsom &
Ewell's Chris Brayne scored from the penalty spot.

Epsom
& Ewell 3-2 Molesey

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
25th March 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
make dramatic second half turnaround

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team made a dramatic turnaround to gain all three points
in a match that at half-time they didn't deserve any.

Epsom
& Ewell's youth side like the first and reserves have picked up a fair
number of injuries in the past fortnight, keeper Ed Humphries the latest one
to be added to the injury list after he was injured in a football match the
night before meaning that like at Crawley Down we had no recognised keeper
seeing Paul Birch don the gloves again.

Epsom
& Ewell managed to put in a performance even worse than the one in the
first half at Crawley Down, if you could have believed that we could have
played any worse allowing Molesey to go two up through two quick fire goals
on 11 and 16 minutes following Epsom & Ewell defensive errors.

Epsom
& Ewell's Russell Banyard in sole control tonight in the absence of James
Deacons having work commitments must have torn into the side at half time as
they came out like a team possessed to play the best football this season,
Chris Brayne picking up a loose ball to intercept and fire low from 15 yards
out past the Molesey keeper on 49 minutes, Chris Brayne then heading home a
Daniel Field from 8 yards out on 53 minutes and then completed his hat-trick
on 78 minutes by picking up a through ball and firing low from 15 yards out,
the Molesey keeper getting down to his left but the ball managed to somehow
get through his body.

Luke
Longhurst could and should have made it 4-2 in injury time but the ball fell
unkindly for him as he scuffed his shot from 8 yards out.

Croydon
4-4 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Monday
30th March 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Banyard
backlash inspires Youth come back from the dead to draw

It
was not only the reserves that hit three goals in the second half this
evening as the Youth team came back from being 4-1 down to draw 4-4 at
Croydon in a repeat score line to the first match at Merland Rise just under
three weeks ago - the two league matches have seen sixteen goals and this was
as much a thriller as the first meeting!

Epsom
& Ewell were a goal down inside 90 seconds as Ed Humphries was caught off
his line and the misery was heaped on to the Youth team further on 15 minutes
as a ball across the face of the Epsom six yard box was converted and the
third occurred on 26 minutes as poor defending allowed a shot to be fired at
goal from 12 yards out that Humphries was unable to keep out.

Epsom
& Ewell reduced the arrears on 35 minutes as James Voisey worked hard to
get past three challenges to fire a low ball across the box, a Croydon
defender sticking out a leg to guide it home past his own keeper. Croydon
then nearly gifted another goal to Epsom as a Fernando Betancourt cross saw
another Croydon player get his boot to the ball to deflect it over the home
keeper but the effort thankfully saved the blushes of the player as the ball
went just past the stanchion on 42 minutes.

The
score line seemed likely to remain at a two goal advantage at half-time but
with the last kick of the half the hosts regained the three goal cushion, a
deep cross into the box saw a home player bring down the ball, two powder
puff challenges saw the home player still have control of the ball six yards
out but his effort with a weak shot from 6 yards out that looked like a bread
& butter save for Ed Humphries managed to go through the grasp of the
Epsom keeper and somehow through his legs and roll over the line into the net
- the referee immediately blowing for half-time.

Russell
Banyard in the absence of the co-manager James Deacons again due to work
commitments decided to show how disappointed he was with the first half
performance that he used a Phil Brown management tactic to keep the team out
on the pitch for half-time, showing the team where they went wrong in the
first half and how they should play in the second half with the aid of 11
water bottles and a roll of strapping tape to signify the ball!

Although
the reaction was not instantaneous as Croydon had one excellent shot from the
edge of the box on 49 minutes that was saved by Ed Humphries the final 40
minutes were one way traffic with the E's youngsters playing probably the
best period of football in the club since the first team's first half
demolition of Wembley.

James
Voisey came close on 54 minutes with a shot that went just past the post but
it was Voisey that got Epsom on the way to reducing the arrears as his
probing run into the box on 62 minutes saw a Croydon defender decide he
wanted the Epsom striker's shirt some 28 minutes early, Chris Brayne sending
the Croydon keeper the wrong way from the spot.

The
arrears were further reduced on 65 minutes, a probing cross into the home box
was only knocked down by a Croydon defender straight to Luke Longhurst to
volley the ball home from 12 yards out. Epsom had built up a head of steam
and were like a steam train as the half progressed, Fernando Bentancourt's
pass into Chris Brayne setting up a shot from just outside the box on 74
minutes that forced the home keeper into a save at full stretch to deflect
the ball on to the roof of his own net.

The
equaliser came on 80 minutes, Chris Brayne's outswinging corner seeing the
Croydon keeper coming a long way off his line to try to gather but he only
flapped at the ball as it sailed over him to find James Voisey rising
unchallenged to powerfully head home from 10 yards out.

Epsom
came ever so close in the 89th minute to claiming a remarkable turn around of
a much greater respect than that of the turnaround last Wednesday at Molesey
as Luke Longhurst connected with another Brayne corner from 8 yards out, the
Croydon keeper in the right place to block on his line - another foot or two
either side and Epsom would have recorded one of the club's most memorable
results to add to the Sutton one earlier this season and the reserves win
tonight.

The
comeback will be memorable for many seasons to come and will join the youth
team comeback in October 2006 when the youth were 3-0 down at half-time in
the FA Youth Cup to come back in the second half to draw 3-3 before losing on
penalties.

Both
managers were animated after the full-time whistle in their respective
dressing rooms - the Croydon manager about the way that his side lost a three
goal cushion and Russell Banyard upset that the Epsom players did not make
their chances count to score a fifth and possibly a sixth goal.

Tonight's
game has set up the league cup quarter-final that will be taking place in
nine days time at Merland Rise as a mouth watering encounter that no Epsom or
Croydon fan will want to miss.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-5 Chipstead

Southern Youth League

Thursday
2nd April 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team continued the fine second half performance from
Monday night as they raced into a four goal half-time lead at third place
Chipstead before finally ending up 5-1 winners in a performance that they
have been threatening to hand out all season.

Epsom
& Ewell were a goal up on 13 minutes with the longest effort in the club
since keeper Dave Hyatt scored in the Surrey Senior Cup some 8 years ago,
Jimmy Majinya some 20 yards inside the Epsom half performed a clearance
that he pumped long and high trying to find Luke Longhurst, the ball landing
on the edge of the Chipstead box, the home keeper came off his line towards
the ball anticipating to routinely collect the ball but the dry pitch allowed
the ball to take off and clear the home keeper with ease as it bounced into
the unguarded net - the goal would have made an excellent candidate for a
Question of Sport's "What happened Next?" round.

Epsom
& Ewell doubled the lead on 19 minutes as Chris Brayne played the ball
into Luke Longhurst, the Epsom striker using quick feet to transfer the ball
to his stronger foot allowing himself to turn and execute a chip from 15
yards out that floated over the home keeper to go in off a combination of the
underside of the crossbar and the upright.

Chris
Brayne made it three on 26 minutes as his shot from 25 yards out managed to
somehow get through the gloves of the home keeper who managed to deflect the
ball on to the post but he was unable to prevent the ball from creeping over
the line by a good 2 yards before scooping it out, Alec Tuppen following the
original shot in blasted the ball into the net from 6 yards out if the
original effort had been denied but the referee was already signalling a goal
before Tuppen got boot to ball.

Epsom
were four goals up with virtually the last kick of the first half, a prodded
ball through on the edge of the area saw Luke Longhurst beat the offside trap
and coolly divert the ball past the Chips' keeper from 10 yards out to find
the far corner of the net.

Epsom
striker Luke Longhurst completed his hat-trick on 65 minutes, Fernando
Betancourt had been fouled just outside the home box, Longhurst stepping up
to execute a David Beckham style free-kick that he curled over the wall and
tight inside the top corner of the near post leaving the Chipstead keeper
unable to get near the ball with his dive.

Chipstead
scored a consolation on 77 minutes as a ball across the Epsom box was not cut
out allowing the home striker to back heel the ball home from 8 yards
out.

Excellent
performance, excellent win and an excellent way to warm up for the League Cup
Quarter-Final next Wednesday for the third instalment against Croydon Youth.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-2 Croydon (after extra time - lost 3-4 on penalties)

Southern Youth League
Cup Quarter Final

Wednesday
8th April 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
go out despite being the better side

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team bowed out of the Southern Youth League Cup tonight
with an undeserved 4-3 loss in the penalty lottery.

Epsom
& Ewell found themselves behind on 6 minutes when a weak penalty appeal
saw the referee point to the penalty spot, the visiting player making no
mistake from the spot. Epsom & Ewell's hard work eventually paid off when
Alec Tuppen was presented with a ball on 63 minutes as he managed to beat the
Croydon keeper from 12 yards out.

Epsom's
cause was put into a better position on 80 minutes when their midfielder
lashed out in retaliation to an incoming tackle as he landed a punch which
resulted in a straight red card. Epsom with only 11 available players upped
the ante and gained a deserved goal to take the lead on 94 minutes, James
Voisey's effort from the edge of the box was almost identical to Dale
Marvell's opener the prior night at Badshot Lea.

Epsom
looked comfortable to see out the win to take them through to a semi-final
match at Greenwich Borough next Thursday but Croydon somehow managed to get a
floated corner down on to the deck and then scramble the ball over the line
on 118 minutes to force the penalty lottery.

The
shoot-out went into a sudden death situation as both teams could only score
three out of their five kicks, Epsom's sixth was saved allowing the visitors
to convert their sixth kick.

Sutton
United 3-1 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Monday
20th April 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom's
youth side went down 3-1 at Gander Green Lane against divisional champions
Sutton United, Sutton opened the scoring mid-way through the first half but
Epsom grabbed an equaliser on the stroke of half-time.

Sutton
came out stronger in the second half and added two goals to keep their
unblemished record in the league this season.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-2 Colliers Wood United

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
22nd April 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
grab draw at home to Colliers Wood United

Epsom
& Ewell's Youth team drew 2-2 at home to Colliers Wood United tonight.
Colliers Wood raced into a two goal lead in the opening 20 minutes as a close
range shot and then a penalty put the visitors in the driving seat.

Luke
Longhurst pulled the home side back to being only one goal behind on the
stroke of half-time. Dayle Honess headed Epsom level mid way through the
second half and Jake Hill appeared to score a third goal for Epsom as the
netting rippled but both the referee and his assistant were not in a position
to confirm the ball had gone over the line.

Greenwich
Borough 4-0 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
30th April 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
suffer heavy end of season defeat

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team ended their season with a 4-0 defeat at Greenwich
Borough. The match being Greenwich Borough's penultimate one to take place at
their Eltham ground before it is shut and bulldozed as part of a local
regeneration programme that will see the club relocate to Holmesdale where
they will be ground sharing next season.

The
game did not start well for Epsom as Greenwich Borough took a third minute
lead through an opportunistic home player picking up an attempted back pass
to chip the ball over Ed Humphries.

Failure
by Epsom to get a strong challenge in on numerous occasions allowed the hosts
to fire home on 15 minutes to double their lead. Epsom came close to scoring
before and shortly after half-time but further goals on 59 minutes and 87
minutes compounded the Epsom anguish.

2009/10 Season

Chessington & Hook United 1-0 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
26th August 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell Youth go down to early Chessington goal

Epsom
& Ewell Youth went down to a solitary eighth minute strike at Chalky Lane
this evening. The youth team playing together in their first competitive
fixture started slowly for the first twenty minutes but were in total control
in the second half and deserved an equaliser which they were denied by the
woodwork and the gloves of the home keeper as Epsom limited Chessington to
two brief second half excursion out of the hosts own half.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-4 Cobham

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
2nd September 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The
youth team were at home to Cobham at Merland Rise and found themselves a goal
down after just three minutes and two down midway through the first
half.

Cobham
added two further goals in the early stages of the second half before Dean
Munns notched a deserved consolation goal with around 5 minutes to go.

Sutton
United 5-0 Epsom & Ewell

F.A.Youth Cup First
Qualifying Round

Wednesday
9th September 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth knew that it was going to be a tough game at Gander Green
Lane if we were to get past Sutton. Epsom eventually conceding five goals
without reply in a score line that flattered the hosts, but the young Epsom
squad did the club proud but not giving up for the whole 90 minutes.

Sutton
were forced to wait 38 minutes to open the scoring as 15 year old Epsom
keeper Rickardo Borat pulled off a string of quality saves to deny Sutton,
unfortunately the Epsom defence then gifted Sutton a second less than two
minutes later.

Epsom
quickly conceded two further goals on 48 and 54 minutes before holding firm
until the 82nd minute when the fifth was scored. Concerted pressure in the
final five minutes saw a string of Epsom corner won but Sutton's defence held
firm to prevent Epsom from scoring a deserved consolation goal.

Molesey
2-0 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
16th September 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell Youth  suffered a fourth straight defeat with a 2-0 loss at
Molesey tonight.

Epsom
& Ewell could have been ahead by the time the Moles took the lead on 34
minutes as a defensive lapse allowed the home striker in behind the E's
defence to fire home from 10 yards out. Molesey took only another 42 seconds
to secure a second goal as a cross into the box found the other Molesey
striker to stick out a foot to divert the ball home from 12 yards out.

Epsom
deserved at least a goal but despite the pressure put on the hosts in the
second half the continuing goal drought that has seen only one goal scored in
360 minutes of football must be of concern to both Randall and Trevor.

Epsom
& Ewell 4-1 St Andrews (abandoned on 57 minutes - player injury)

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
23rd September 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Last
night's youth match at Merland Rise was abandoned on 57 minutes due to a
severe leg injury sustained by Epsom & Ewell's Will Timms in an innocuous
50/50 challenge with a St. Andrews player.

Epsom
& Ewell were at the time leading 4-1 and looking destined for their first
three points of the season through goals by Lee Wilkinson (2) and Tom Porter
(2). Both sides were willing to carry on to try to complete the game but due
to the length of time it took the Epsom player to be moved from the pitch
into the Ambulance, the restriction on the lights meant that the referee had
no option but to abandon the game as there would have been insufficient time
to complete the match.

Carshalton
Athletic 3-0 Epsom & Ewell

Surey Midweek Floodlit
Cup First Round

Wednesday
14th October 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team travelled back into the London Borough of Sutton for
their second cup game of the season following on from the 5-0 defeat at
Gander Green Lane last month in the FA Youth Cup as they faced Carshalton
Athletic at Colston Avenue.

Epsom
& Ewell fared much better than the Sutton match last month but came away
on the end of 3-0 defeat that flattered the home side. The hosts took a 12th
minute lead as a pass threaded into the middle of the Epsom box saw a home
player get the better of his marker to collect and fire first time under
Samir Smail. Epsom keeper Samir Smail making his debut in place of the rested
Rickardo Borat took his chance as he pulled off a string of saves and Tom
Porter was forced to clear one effort of his own goal line as the hosts were
held to only a one goal half-time lead.

Epsom
reshuffled at half-time and had the majority of the possession in the second
half but resolute defending by the hosts denied Epsom a sniff in the hosts
box, Samir Smail continued to impress as he made two excellent blocking saves
to keep Epsom in the game, the hosts fitness eventually telling as they
scored two late goals on 86 and 89 minutes to kill the game off.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-0 Chertsey Town

Grant McLellan Youth Cup
First Round

Wednesday
21st October 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell Youth gain first win of the season

Epsom
& Ewell Youth team picked up their first win of the season with a 2-0 win
at home to Chertsey Town in the Grant McLellan Youth Cup 1st Round.

With
the first team being knocked out of their league cup last night, the Youth
team were competing in the Grant McLellan Youth Cup which is the Combined
Counties League Cup for Youth teams of member clubs.

The
youth team built on their recent performances and on the 4-1 defeat inflicted
just three weeks ago at the hands of Chertsey at their Alwyns Lane ground as
the youth team dominated their first home match since the abandonment to St.
Andrews at the end of September but were left frustrated at half-time as the
better chances had fallen to Epsom but the ball had not been put into the
back of the net.

Epsom
& Ewell eventually took the lead on 63 minutes as recent signing Benny
Eisenbeiss executed a deftly lifted chipped ball from 15 yards out wide in
the Chertsey box that caused Chertsey keeper Tom Webb severe difficulties as
it was dropping just under the bar and coming out of the floodlight pylons,
Webb managing to deflect the ball on to his post but the ball ran loose to
Tom Porter to walk the ball into the net from 2 yards out.

Epsom
gained a valuable two goal cushion on 67 minutes, Lee Wilkinson picking the
ball up some 30 yards out from goal, his shot catching Chertsey keeper Tom
Webb on his heels as the ball arrowed over the young Curfews keeper on the
edge of his 6 yard box and crept home just under the crossbar - the goal
probably just as good or possibly even better than Ramzi Bedj-Bedj's goal at
Wealden in the FA Cup. Epsom & Ewell's defence growing in confidence with
each match reduced Chertsey to only

two
attempts at goal in the remaining twenty odd minutes, Ricky Borat pulling off
two fine stops to deflect the ball wide of goal on both occasions. Epsom
comfortably managed to see out the match to record their first win of the
season.

Dorking
1-5 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
28th October 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth overcame their Dorking counterparts at a foggy Meadowbank
5-1 in a bottom of the table clash. Neither side had registered a league win
(but Epsom were of course 4-1 up against St. Andrews when it was abandoned
last month) and coming into the match on the back of the cup win last week,
Epsom spent no time in opening the scoring on 6 minutes, a cross being
blasted home by a Dorking defender from 6 yards out - there must be something
in the Dorking rule book when they play Epsom at home that Dorking have to
open the scoring for Epsom!

The
visitors had a couple of opportunities to extend the lead before the second
goal eventually arrived on 31 minutes as Lee Wilkinson was allowed to pick up
the ball, beat the static defensive line and go on a solo run from 35 yards
out as he coolly rounded the keeper and slotted home unopposed. With the
ground suddenly engulfed with fog, Tom Porter was denied a goal on 42 minutes
for offside but it appeared he was being played on side.

The
match officials were contemplating abandoning the match at half-time but
decided to leave off making a final decision being made until the end of the
half-time interval, to Epsom's relief the fog lifted enough during the 15
minute break to enable a clear view from end to end. Epsom attacked from the
kick-off and won a penalty 25 seconds into the half which Tom Porter decided
to strike straight down the middle of the goal, the Dorking keeper had not
moved allowing himself to make a comfortable save.

Epsom
made up for the penalty miss on 48 minutes as Lee Wilkinson converted a cross
from 7 yards out and Benny Eisenbeiss was on the end of another cross on 61
minutes as he brought the ball down 12 yards out, beat one defender and
rounded the keeper to slot home from 7 yards out to make it 4-0.

The
fog descended rapidly with around twenty minutes to go seeing the final
quarter an hour being played in conditions where visibility was down to 15
yards and the view resembling a victorian street scene where objects just
appear from nowhere through the murky conditions, the players resorting to
shout out instructions when the ball was played - if the scores were level
the match would have been abandoned by now.

Dorking
scored a goal on 79 minutes, no spectators seeing the goal but the sound of
home players cheering and then the noise of high fives conclusive that a goal
had been scored. Epsom wrapped up the win with a fifth goal on 89 minutes,
the visibility improving just enough to see Matt Wilkinson collect a squared
pass and cross into the box for Epsom's centre back & captain Anthony
Panayi to run on to the ball and fire home from 10 yards out.

Camberley
Town 4-1 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League
Cup First Round

Monday
2nd November 2009

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
knocked out of League Cup at Camberley Town

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team went down 4-1 at Krooner Park against a strong
Camberley side. Epsom & Ewell found themselves a goal down on 13 minutes
as the Epsom defence failed to close down a Camberley attack that saw the
ball eventually prodded home by a spare Camberley player on the overlap.

Epsom
were level on 15 minutes, Lee Wilkinson getting the better of a Camberley
defender to win a 50/50 ball and square the ball into the home box, two
Camberley defenders had fresh air shots in attempting to clear the ball as
the ball found Tom Porter to steer the ball home from 10 yards out.

Camberley
were back level though on 20 minutes, Ricky Borratt making his first mistake
of the season as he misjudged a through ball by racing off his line only for
a Camberley player managing to get boot on ball ahead of the young keeper to
take it away from him, Boratt managed to force the home player away from goal
but the eventual cross by the Krooners player seeing another home player
manage to have the easy task of rolling the ball into an empty net despite
the efforts of Anthony Panayi to keep the ball out.

Camberley
gained breathing space on 35 minutes as poor defending allowed the ball to
find the incoming player unmarked to volley home from 10 yards out. Epsom
pushed forward trying to find a way back into the match throughout the second
half but the home defence held firm, while at the other end Epsom & Ewell
keeper Ricky Boratt showed why he is gaining admirers and fans throughout the
club as he produced a string of fine saves to thwart the hosts on numerous
occasions.

Camberley
eventually adding their fourth on 76 minutes, a smart passing move of 2 touch
passes seeing the ball land at the home striker's feet to execute an inch
perfect finish as the ball was curled over Boratt and in off a combination of
underside of crossbar and post.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-3 Chessington & Hook United

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
3rd February 2010

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
succumb to Chessington first half corner blitz

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team ended tonight's Youth game at Merland Rise as 3-0
losers to Chessington & Hook United. All three goals for the visitors
occured in the first half, a disputed free-kick was played deep into the home
box on 8 minutes that saw poor defending allow the visitors striker to smash
home the opener from close range. The lead was doubled on 22 minutes as a
corner was headed home by an unmarked visitors player from 8 yards out and a
repeat occurred on 31 minutes as no Epsom defender once again picked up the
same visitors player.

The
E's given a telling off at half-time dug in and battled very hard throughout
the second half but were denied any comeback by superb keeping by the home
keeper and the post on two occasions.

Molesey
4-0 Epsom & Ewell

Grant McLellan Youth Cup
Quarter Final

Monday
1st March 2010

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth were defeated 4-0 by their Molesey counterparts at Walton
Road this evening in the Grant McLellan Youth Cup Quarter-Final.

Molesey
and Epsom & Ewell were deadlocked at half-time, both keepers being forced
to push shots on to their respective bars during the first half which was the
closest that the match came to attracting goals.

Molesey
took the lead on 50 minutes, Epsom & Ewell were caught in not pushing up
in support of the front two, two quick passes seeing the ball played through
the Epsom midfield and defensive line, the Molesey striker hitting a first
time 35 yard shot that Ricky Borrat got glove to whilst standing on the edge
of his own area, the ball floating into the empty net with ease.

Molesey
were two up on 68 minutes, Ricky Borratt's goal kick going straight to a
Molesey midfielder inside the centre circle, failure by Epsom to close the
player or ball down saw the ball played into the Molesey striker to finish
past Borratt trying to get across his box to cover his post.

Molesey
bundled in the third on 72 minutes and the fourth and final goal occurred on
87 minutes as a cut back found the incoming Molesey player to swashbuckle the
ball home past substitute Epsom keeper Samir Smail.

Epsom
managed to find the net twice in the second half but both times the assistant
referees' flag was raised.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-4 Dorking

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
3rd March 2010

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Dorking
wreak their revenge on Epsom Youth

There
is always one fixture during any season that a club just wants to forget -
last season it was the reserves 6-1 defeat away at Oakwood and tonight's
defeat will probably be this season's one as Dorking Youth who were defeated
5-1 at Meadowbank earlier in the season and had not picked up a single point
in their league campaign left Merland Rise with all three points with a 4-0
win against an Epsom side that were far too complacent in their
approach.

Epsom
were forced to start the match with only ten men, the visitors pressure
seeing the opening goal scored after just 7 minutes, the striker going on to
fire home Dorking's second on 10 minutes and completing his hat-trick on 12
minutes with a curling effort from just inside the box - Epsom by the third
goal going in having got to a full complement of players.

Epsom
at half-time swapped keepers with Ricky Borratt still suffering from a minor
head injury that occurred at Molesey coming on for Samir Smail but he was
helpless to prevent Dorking's one and only foray into the Epsom half on 67
minutes as a counter attack was swept home from just inside the Epsom box
with a curled effort that was inch perfect to clear Borratt and just under
the crossbar.

Epsom
peppered the visitors box throughout the second half but luck was on the
side of the Dorking side as efforts were either blocked or clattered off
woodwork - the result seeing Dorking close the gap between the two sides down
to just three points now.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-1 Croydon

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
10th March 2010

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team on the back of the heavy defeat at home to Dorking
last Wednesday bounced back with one of their best displays of the season in
a spirited performance which they eventual turned into a 2-1 win at home to
Croydon - if Epsom had ended this match without a point which looked likely
for the majority of the second half there would have been a gross
injustice.

Epsom
& Ewell kept the Croydon keeper's glove warm throughout the first half as
the visiting keeper pulled off a string of saves, the visitors taking the
lead on 18 minutes with their first real effort of the match with the aid of
the gale force wind that was battering Merland Rise throughout the match, the
outswinging corner curling over all the players to hit the inside face of the
far post squarely seeing the ball bounce into the goal.

Epsom
threw everything including the proverbial sink at Croydon in the second half,
good fortune prevailed for the visitors to keep Epsom from scoring. With
Epsom looking likely to go down harshly to another home defeat, the eagle
eyed young assistant on 87 minutes spotted that the Croydon keeper continued
to hold the ball in excess of the six seconds in the laws of the game which
not many match officials pull up nowadays, the referee awarding an indirect
free-kick in the middle of the Croydon box which was blocked for an Epsom
corner by the Croydon wall almost standing on their own line.

Peter
Ley's resulting corner entering a stream of air that saw the ball curl just
inside the far post, Tom Porter claiming that as he stooped trying to head
the ball it instead came off his back on the way in. Epsom in the second
minute of injury time put a diagonal ball into the path of Ashley Hall to
collect unchallenged, his run and subsequent first time shot from just inside
the Croydon box on an angle seemed to be drifting wide of the far post and
seemingly too slow, the Croydon keeper although diving to his right was left
beaten and then a further twist occurred as the ball appeared to hit a small
divot in the six yard box that allowed the ball to deviate enough to roll
home off the foot of the post to cue a mass bundle in the centre circle of celebrating
Epsom players.

St
Andrews 2-2 Epsom & Ewell (Played at Anvil Lane, Cobham FC)

Southern Youth League

Thursday
18th March 2010

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
errors see draw against St. Andrews

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team came away from Cobham with a 2-2 draw against St.
Andrews - two defensive errors costing Epsom from not picking up more than
just the one point. Epsom & Ewell took a deserved lead on 21 minutes, the
St. Andrews keeper moments before had pulled off a spectacular point blank
save but then let himself down as the resulting Peter Ley inswinging corner
was helped in by the back peddling St. Andrews keeper.

St.
Andrews had rarely threatened Epsom's goal until the 32nd minute, a Rory
Delap type of long throw seeing the ball flicked on, not one of five Epsom
players within four yards of the ball attempted to get their head on the ball
allowing the unmarked striker to receive the ball, swivel and fire home past
Ricky Borratt from 8 yards out.

Further
defensive error occurred on 42 minutes, a deep ball was not intercepted by an
Epsom defensive boot allowing the home striker to round the committed Borratt
and shoot low into an empty net from 12 yards out. Epsom grabbed an equaliser
on 66 minutes as Tom Porter making a burst down the left wing collected a
diagonal ball just inside the box, Porter powerfully volleying the ball home
from 15 yards out.

Both
sides had opportunities to score a winner but a draw was probably the fairest
result.

Croydon
3-0 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Monday
22nd March 2010

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team lost 3-0 away at Croydon Arena. The hosts found
themselves three goals to the good at half-time with the Epsom Youth team
squandering a couple of opportunities. The second half was a rather dour
affair with few chances to either side.

Epsom
& Ewell 0-1 Westfield

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
24th March 2010

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

The
youth were in a more closer encounter at home to Westfield who contained a
number of fringe Woking Youth academy players, Epsom & Ewell looked
destined to share the spoils in an entertaining game that looked destined to
finish goal less until the only goal occurred on 77 minutes as a visiting
player stuck his leg out to an aimless ball that was flashing through the
Epsom box, the shin of the Westfield player being enough to divert the ball
past Samir Smail who had his best performance of the season and deserved a
clean sheet for the string of excellent saves he pulled off tonight.

Epsom
& Ewell 1-1 Molesey (Played at Walton Road, Molesey FC)

Southern Youth League

Monday
29th March 2010

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
hold title chasing Molesey counterparts

Epsom
& Ewell Youth kicked off our marathon week of matches - although this was
our home league game it was forced to be switched to Molesey with their
agreement as Banstead had a private hire which they were unable to cancel.

Epsom
contained the Molesey side really well in the first half and went in at
half-time goal less - the same score line as four weeks ago in the Grant
McLellan Youth Cup when Molesey performed a second half blitz to win 4-0. The
second half was a pulsating affair and the match could have easily finished
6-6 as Epsom demonstrated the strides they have made in the past four weeks
and especially over the last fortnight. It took until the 80th minute for the
deadlock to be broken, Lee Wilkinson and Tom Porter combining to get the ball
into the path of Max Smith to hit a scuffed shot from 8 yards out that evaded
the home keeper seeing the ball go in off the inside of the post.

Epsom
& Ewell committed the cardinal sin of letting their defences drop after
scoring, Epsom had been outstanding in defence but straight from the restart
the ball was played into the box, Epsom for the first and only time
throughout the match allowed the Molesey striker to turn his marker allowing
himself to volley past Epsom keeper Samir Smail.

Westfield
1-0 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
14th April 2010

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team for the second time against Westfield played very
well but lost by a solitary goal, but it was not until the third minute of
injury time that the hosts struck to dash Epsom's deserved point.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-4 St Andrews

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
21st April 2010

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Epsom
& Ewell's Youth team were also in action and football can be harsh at
time, as this fixture was originally abandoned back in September on 57
minutes due to a serious leg injury with Epsom leading 4-1 at the time but
tonight with a number of youth players unavailable due to reserve team
call-ups the youth team were defeated 4-2 by St. Andrews.

Kyle
Matheson put Epsom ahead on 24 minutes with a sweet volley from 12 yards out
and Epsom seemed to be cruising to a deserved half-time lead only for a mad
45 seconds in the 41st minute that saw St. Andrews gifted two goals by two
Epsom defensive mistakes. Epsom & Ewell pulled the scores level on 60
minutes as the ball found Jack Jones arriving at the back post to knock the
ball home from 12 yards out.

The
match looked likely to finish 2-2 only for the visitors to hit a rasping
drive into the roof of the net in the first minute of injury time and then
sealed their rather flattering win with a sixth minute of injury time goal
after another defensive howler in the middle of the Epsom box - over the 147
minutes though Epsom could boast that we won 6-5 on aggregate!

Epsom
& Ewell 1-2 Chertsey Town

Southern Youth League

Friday
23rd April 2010

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Youth
lose against Chertsey

Epsom
& Ewell Youth went down 2-1 in defeat at the hands of Chertsey Town at
Merland Rise this evening.

Epsom
& Ewell had the worst possible start as Chertsey raced into a two goal
lead with only 8 minutes on the clock, the first goal occuring after a foul
on one of the Epsom centre backs after just over 2 minutes gone and the
Chertsey forward was brave to get his head to a ball on 8 minutes that saw
him manage to nick the ball past Epsom keeper Samir Smail.

Epsom
reduced the arrears on 50 minutes as Max Smith beat three Chertsey defenders
and then wrong footed the visiting keeper to pull Epsom back into the match.
Epsom came close to equalising on 87 minutes from an unlikely source -
substitute keeper Ricky Borratt had been put on up front with 10 minutes left
and he unleashed another piece of his impressive armoury as our Youth team
turned into Stoke for a couple of seconds - Borratt unleashing a menacing
Rory Delap throw-in, two Chertsey defenders and the keeper all managed to
miss the ball, Lee Wilkinson's header at the back post flashing wide of the
post.

Colliers
Wood 1-0 Epsom & Ewell and Epsom & Ewell 0-1 Colliers Wood United
(double header played at Wibbandune Playing Fields, Colliers Wood United FC)

Southern Youth League

Wednesday
28th April 2010

Report
Source: Epsom & Ewell FC Website

Reporter:
Robert Oakes

Colliers
Wood all but secure Youth title with double header 1-0 victories

Epsom
& Ewell's youth team finished off their season with a pair of 1-0 defeats
in a double header played with Colliers Wood at their Wibbadune ground.

The
first game saw Colliers Wood as the home side and they took a deserved 1-0
lead on 14 minutes a deep free-kick played into the back post saw the
arriving player side foot the ball back past Ricky Borratt from a tight angle
just inside he far post. Epsom were denied a certain penalty on 22 minutes as
Kyle Matheson was flattened when chipping the ball over the advancing keeper
but the referee waved away Epsom's vocal appeals. Colliers Wood comfortably
saw out the second 30 minute period to secure the three points from the first
match.

The
second match was a different type of match altogether as Colliers Wood
knowing that they only needed to pick up four points from their remaining
three matches came out tense as Epsom took the game to the
"visitors", but Epsom were left undone on 22 minutes as Ashley
Hall's slip allowed the Coliers Wood player to nip in to take possession of
the ball and fire low through Ricky Borratt's body.

Kyle
Matheson was sent clear on 46 minutes, his chip over the keeper seemed likely
to get Epsom a deserved equaliser only for a last ditch clearance off the
goal line. Epsom continued to press for an equaliser and at least a share of
the spoils which we deserved but alas Colliers Wood managed to mop up every
attempt Epsom threw into the home box - at the other end Epsom keeper Ricky
Borratt signed off the season with a couple of fine brave saves at the feet
of Colliers Wood players. Colliers Wood can win the divisional title on
Friday evening with a win against St. Andrews.

2010/11 Season

Epsom & Ewell 1-3 Croydon

Southern
Youth League

Monday
21st March 2011

Report
Source: Croydon FC Website

Reporter:
unknown

Croydon
had to work extra hard to gain all three points at Epsom & Ewell. Croydon
started slow and were passing the ball across the back line which Epsom &
Ewell constantly pressured the Croydon back four. Against the run of play
Croydon took the lead on sixteen minutes when Felix Tetteh shot into an empty
net from fifteen yards following a mix up with the home teams back four and
goalkeeper Charlie Burns. From this point the home team dictated the play and
Jamie Broughton in the Croydon goal was back to his best with three
tremendous saves the first from a free kick which he superbly tipped over the
bar, and two diving saves to his left from the speedy Jack Jones and winger
Adeira Johnson. Epsom & Ewell constantly attacked for the last two
minutes of the first half and againJones smacked the crossbar. Manager Danny
Lee and his assistant Aaron Tarry were delighted to hear the half time
whistle and sort things out with a tough talk during the interval. Half time
0 -1.

The
second half kicked off and the home team were back in the action and a foul
on Kyle Matheson by Lamin Bah, from the resulting free kick Ashley Nadesan
headed home from the six yard box on fifty six minutes. Croydon back four
were working overtime with Sean Pitt clearing his lines. Manager Lee made his
first change when Kwame Rennalls replaced Joshua Joe, and Ricardo Laing
replaced the hard working Felix Tetteh. Croydon mounted a rare attack and
Jonas Kanda just shot wide, Croydon played their final card when Irfan Amir
replaced Owen Pykes, The home team never let up and only for the fine display
by Jamie Broughton who made another two marvellous saves to keep his team in
the game. Finally after eighty minutes Croydon woke up and started playing
good attacking football and on eighty eighty minutes a fine pass by Rennalls
found Irfan Amir who shot from outside the box to the roof of the net giving
Charlie Burns in goal no chance. Croydon continued to attack the tired home
team and in time added on Ricardo Laing scored the goal of the night with a
thunderous shot from inside the box. Final Score. Epsom & Ewell 1 Croydon
3.

Team:
Broughton: Williams: Bah; Walters: Pitt: Tubosun: Pykes: Andrews: Tetteh:
Kanda: Joe:

Subs
Rennalls for Joe: Amir for Tetteh; Laing for Pykes.

2011/12 Season

Epsom & Ewell 1-2 St Andrews

Southern Youth League

Monday
5th September 2011

Report
Source: Match Programme

Reporter:
Tina Nadesan

Our
boys had their first game of the season at home to St. Andrews, with chances
on both sides for the duration of the game. St. Andrews opened the scoring,
but this did not thwart our youngsters who battled on to draw level with a
goal from Kyle Matheson.

Half-time
was 1-1 but within minutes of starting the 2nd half, we were caught off guard
and went 2-1 down. Despite several attacks we were unable to convert, and had
to suffer a defeat for the first game of the season.

Horsham
1-2 Epsom & Ewell

F.A. Youth Cup
Preliminary Round

Thursday
8th September 2011

Report
Source: Match Programme

Reporter:
Tina Nadesan

In
the preliminary round of the FA Youth Cup, Epsom travelled to Crawley (Three
Bridges FC) to be hosted by Horsham FC.

With
all the boys slightly apprehensive about playing this fixture, nerves were
frayed, but they did not need to be as our boys romped to a 2-1 victory in
style - and with a bye in the next round due to Arundel withdrawing, we were
on top of the world!!

A
very organised Epsom team got stuck in from the start, having the majority of
the possession and a number of shots on goal. Half way through the first
half, Jack Jones was brought down in the box and Declan Smith converted the
penalty with ease, 1-0 to the Blues.

Horsham
continued to fight back, making chances at either end, and they drew level
just before half-time. The second half saw Epsom come out with guns blazing,
knowing that it was possible to win this fixture!

With
most of the possession and chances, Epsom dominated and a brilliant goal from
Kyle Matheson saw Epsom go through to the next round winning 2-1. Special
mention must go to Thomas Bailey in goal, who put in a great performance
throughout.

A
fantastic display from the boys, who played brilliantly from start to
finish.

Epsom
& Ewell 3-2 Balham Blazers

Southern Youth League

Monday
12th September 2011

Report
Source: Match Programme

Reporter:
Tina Nadesan

Following
a fantastic win earlier in the week, the boys were in high spirits entering
this fixture - but that did not last long, as a very strong Balham Blazers
went 2-0 up in the first 10 minutes!

Instead
of heads going down, the boys stuck their heels in and fought back with a
vengeance with end to end action and again, some great saves from Tom Bailey,
keeping us in with a chance. Halfway through the first half, Kyle Matheson
converted a corner and gave Epsom more hope in the game.

After
some good work from Jack Jones, who was brought down in the box, Epsom had a
penalty and a chance to level the game. Declan Smith calmly slotted the ball
home, much to the delight of the home fans! Before the halftime whistle went,
Ashley Nadesan turned in the box and put the ball in the bottom corner to put
Epsom in the lead 3-2.

The
second half saw no goals, but plenty of action at both ends. A very solid
performance from the youngsters to come back from 2-0 down and win the game
against a strong Balham side.

Epsom
& Ewell 4-0 Cobham

Southern Youth League

Monday
26th September 2011

Report
Source: Match Programme

Reporter:
Tina Nadesan

Epsom
hosted Cobham full of high spirits coming off the back of a few wins and
played the whole game with vigour and enthusiasm - despite the fact injuries
left us with the bare 11! We had most of the possession, and defended well
when needed.

The
Blues opened the scoring with great teamwork down the right wing, for Jack
Jones to slot the ball home. The following came from great work on the left
wing which allowed Kyle Matheson to curl the ball round the keeper, making
Epsom's 2nd and we led 2-0 at halftime.

The
second half contained much of the same thing, Cobham stepped up a gear but
the defenders had it well covered and Epsom still had the majority of the
possession. The first goal of the 2nd half, and our third of the game came
from Ashley Nadesan who shot from outside the box and hit the top right
corner! Our fourth was from our centre back, Harry Boyden, who ran at the
goalkeeper and slotted it home - showing it really was a team effort!

A
great performance from our young boys, and a thoroughly deserved three
points.

Colliers
Wood United 2-3 Epsom & Ewell

Southern Youth League

Thursday
29th September 2011

Report
Source: Match Programme

Reporter:
Tina Nadesan

Epsom
travelled to Colliers Wood with the bare 11 and not only won, but went TOP of
the LEAGUE for their trouble!!!

We
started the match with only ten men due to travelling problems, and within
half an hour went 2-0 down after some defensive errors! Epsom then re-focused
themselves, added another player to make the full team, and dug their heels
in!!

Winning
a corner with 10 minutes to go in the first half, Declan Smith floated the
ball into the area for Kyle Matheson to out-jump everyone and head the ball
into the back of the net. Within minutes, and resulting from another corner
from Smith, Ashley Nadesan flicked the ball on for Harry Boyden to volley
home. We were now level, and tempers were high on the pitch!

The
second half became much more passionate with a number of bookings and clashes
but it was Epsom who took control and yet again, starting from another corner
routine, our new signing Joe Bough had the easy job of tapping the ball in
the back of the net as Declan Smith crossed the ball right in front of the
goal mouth. 3-2 to Epsom, a great comeback from 2-0 down yet again!

Lancing
0-9 Epsom & Ewell

FA Youth Cup Second
Qualifying Round

Wednesday
5th October 2011

Report
Source: Match Programme

Reporter:
Tina Nadesan

This
was an enjoyable match at a lovely ground in front of about 130 people, many
from Epsom, including First Teamer Anthony Panayi.

So
I shall summarise the scorers. Declan Smith scored after only four and a half
minutes had elapsed with a long strike and he doubled his tally from the
penalty spot three minutes later after a Lancing defender handled on the
line, for which he received a red card. Against ten men it was one way
traffic, but we were already well on top.

Charlie
Bryant’s cross floated over the keeper after 16 minutes, and Ashley Nadesan
finished off a good run by clipping the ball left footed in off the underside
of the bar in the 31st minute. Dejaun Best scored in first half injury time
while Kyle Matheson produced a great winding run and shot that went through
the keeper after 49 minutes.

Substitute
Jordan “Joe” Nevin finished off a great Jack Jones run after 75 and six
minutes later glanced a header in from the right wing. The ninth was made by
Nevin, and when in with a chance of shooting, he laid the ball into the path
of Jones who scored with a minute remaining.

Epsom
& Ewell 2-3 Ebbsfleet United (after extra time)

F.A. Youth Cup Third
Qualifying Round

Monday
17th October 2011

Report
Source: Match Programme

Reporter:
Richard Lambert

Epsom & Ewell Youth
Team lost gallantly after extra time to a good Ebbsfleet United team in the
3rd Qualifying Round of the F.A. Youth Cup.

Epsom's goals were
scored by Jack Jones (25 mins) and Declan Smith (33 mins) with Ebbsfleet
getting one back before half time on the 38th minute. Antoine scored a second
Ebbsfleet goal on the 61st minute, but they were down to 10 men after the 80
minutes due to Saxton being sent off for a second bookable offence. With the
match all square at 2-2 after 90 minutes, the game went into extra time and
the third Ebbsfleet goal came after 117 minutes.