Landlords 1- 0 Tenants

Chessy leave it late to see off spirited Epsom

After dropping points on Saturday away at Frimley Green it was important we got back to winning ways, no better way to do that than against your tenants Epsom Athletic. This game is always more than a local derby and credit to both sets of players for giving it 110% for the 90+9 minutes.

Mark Daniels was back in goal tonight with IAN HEWITT working. Christian Money was available again after missing Saturday, he partnered Andrew Jones in the heart of our defence. TOM TYLER moved up into centre midfield to replace the injured DAN GREEN. Aaron Johnson also returned to the starting eleven on his birthday, he replaced EDDIE DINES who is away until Friday. Myles Henry who signed from Tooting & Mitcham on Monday was put straight into the side.

We were still missing several key players – IAN HEWITT, ROSS TOMASSI, DAN GREEN, JOSH DOE, EDDIE DINES, AARON AGYEMAN, KYLE GREEN & ADE PETERS all not available for the game!!!

Straight from kick off we attacked and I pretty much stood and watched Epsom goal for the next 45 minutes apart from one or two attacks, I lost count of the amount of corners, free kicks and crosses were put into the Epsom penalty area, but to be fair to them they defended so well, putting bodies on the line.

A low drive from HENRY flew just wide, Martyn Gange attempted an overhead kick inside the six yard box but miskicked the ball. KIEMON ROBINSON always looked dangerous with his pace and good skill. MONEY and ANDREWS up from the back for set pieces were having a good aerial battle with the large Epsom defenders but no real clear cut chances for us to open the scoring.
Epsom had a penalty appeal late in the half but both linesman and referee made the correct call when Adam Marie took the ball before the man.

Mark Daniels did have one dive to make low down to his right as he watched a strike go harmlessly wide.

At half time we told the lads to keep going, not to panic, we knew a goal would come along eventually. The lads were asked to move the ball quicker and to get more shots off.

The second half was similar to the first, Chessy on the front foot and always looking to play forward, the second game in a row we have faced a side that were happy with a draw.

Midway through the second half JOHNSON flew into a tackle on the half way line in between the dugouts, I would describe it as full blooded, he played the ball and man. The referee standing a good 20 yards away couldn’t sprint over and get his red card out quick enough!! The Epsom player jumped back to his feet the moment JOHNSON was given his marching orders.

Epsom now seeing a little more of the ball as we struggled with one less player in the middle.

JOE CHARLES replaced GANGE, RUDOLPH TEWE replaced MARIE as we switched to 3 at the back to keep the numbers higher up the pitch and keep the pressure on.

The red card gave Epsom some belief that they could go and win it, but with them pushing higher as unit it left so much space in behind for the pacey CHARLES, HENRY, ROBINSON and TEWE to exploit.

CHARLES done well to bring the ball down under pressure 20 yards out, he turned and shifted the ball onto his right foot and unleashed a vicious strike……heading into the top corner the Epsom keeper who is a brilliant shot stopper, managed to get a hand to it and tipped it over for another corner.

We entered the last ten minutes and kept piling on the pressure, a corner resulted in a scramble around the Epsom box, it was cleared to TOM TYLER who hit a volley goal bound, an Epsom defender on the post stuck out an arm and turned it round the post! PENALTY!

ROBINSON stepped up in the absence of KYLE GREEN and coolly slotted the ball down the middle with the keeper diving to his left.

16 year old ADAM SCAMMEL replaced ROBINSON straight after the goal as we switched back to 4 at the back.

As the clocked ticked down JAMES DEACONS asked the linesman how long to play “we’ve done 48” he said……a minute later I asked the referee how long he was playing…..”2 plus 5” he replied……We ended up playing 9 minutes of injury time when there was not one major stoppage in the whole game.

We saw out the game with most of the ball in Epsom’s corner as they struggled to get it off us and clear it.

Another 3 points on the board and we move up to 4th in the table (joint top) on 10 points.

Chessington & Hook goals
ROBINSON (83)
Epsom Athletic goals
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Attendance 92
MOM – TOM TYLER