South Park, who were already crowned champions, came to the High Road on this sunny but cold and windy Holy Saturday, determined to end our hoodoo of our having beaten them six times and one drawn match in our last seven meetings. Having already won twice against them away this season, we were up for the League and Cup treble over them.

We observed a minute’s silence before the match in memory of long-serving Combined Counties League President Ron Monkley who died during the week.

The Blues took the initiative in the opening minutes and this spell of play included a good cross shot by Nathan Ayling that James Cottee just failed to reach and a low, right wing cross that was dealt with by their keeper. Up the other end, Matte Pierson’s weak clearance came back with interest but the shot flew over the bar. On 7 minutes, Pierson made a good, low save from Smith who was being pursued by Jamie Hatfield. This was followed by attacking play from both sides and a promising move by the Blues when Antony ‘Freddie’ Myers chased down a through ball with a South Park defender who finally won the ball.

Both sides kept up the pressure, peppering each other’s goal with shots, corners and long throw ins. Then, on 23 minutes, Dewar was thundering towards goal and was about to pull the trigger when he was closed down, earning a corner that was cleared. Only two minutes later, Cottee outran a defender down the right and his cross went for a corner. McKay met the ball with a towering header but this was saved by the keeper.

South Park countered with several chances of their own, culminating in a header on 31 minutes which went over the bar. Four minutes later, a long range free kick from Ayling saw Dewar tussle with a defender and his deflected shot went straight to the keeper. On 38 minutes, Dewar's strong run upfield produced a free kick for obstruction that was taken by Myers but Park's defence cleared the effort. McGregor then had another free kick defended before Park came back with chances that were thwarted.

Half-Time: Epsom & Ewell 0-0 South Park

Park broke the deadlock on 46 minutes. A long, high-hanging cross was not repelled by Epsom and Chris Smith cracked an unstoppable drive past Pierson and into the bulging onion bag. We were now chasing the game. A header by Dewar was saved, Cottee just failed to convert a cross and McGregor's free kick was saved before Ayling's long ball, on 57 minutes, saw Dewar outpace a defender, but he shot wide past the advancing keeper. Two minutes later, Currie raided down the right, crossed in but Carl Downs shot over. It was clearly not our day!

The visitors doubled their advantage on 65 minutes when a corner on the right saw Michael Smith rise unmarked to plant a bullet header past Pierson for a 2-0 lead. The game kept stretching from end to end before McGregor countered by playing Dewar in and he won the race with the defender and the keeper for possession of the ball but shot wide. Park kept coming back with more efforts and sandwich in between , Epsom's Matt Smith was well placed on 88 minutes but his shot blazed over the bar. The last effort saw a Park header go wide in injury time.

Full-Time: Epsom & Ewell 0-2 South Park

Epsom & Ewell:
Matte Pierson, Sam Currie, Jamie Hatfield (captain) (James Taylor 81), Anthony Panayi, Alex McKay, Carl Downs, Ali Dewar, Nathan Ayling, Antony Myers, Alex McGregor (Matt Smith 83), James Cottee (Richard Lediju 82).

South Park:
James Wastell, Jerry O'Sullivan, Matt Ward, Nathan Miles, Danny Guscott (captain), Michael Smith, Jack Stafford, Adam Pullin, Kieran Lavery, Chris Smith, Joe Jackson.
Subs: Jack McLeod, Dale Burgess, Jack Higgins.

Match Report by George Holland

View Gemma Jarman's photos of the match