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Sat 28 Oct 2017
Epsom & Ewell
1st Team
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N Mensah (0'), (0')
1st Team v Epsom & Ewell
Steve Goldfinch28 Oct 2017 - 15:00
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Match report
On Saturday at Chipstead F.C. North Greenford won their third league game on the spin with a narrow 2-1 victory over bottom-of-the-table Epsom & Ewell. On the overall balance of play it was a well-deserved win against a much-changed Salts team which had lost a number of senior players to Sutton Common Rovers by the start of the current season. It takes United up to 11th in the table on 18 points along with four other Premier Division clubs separated only by goal difference.
Despite Greenford dominating the opening quarter of this contest, resolute and committed defending by the young Epsom & Ewell team, along with several highly questionable offside decisions by the assistant referee, ensured keeper Conor Young was rarely tested, and he was able to deal comfortably with any on-target United efforts.
The first significant Salts attack came on 25 minutes following some sloppy play by the visitors. A cross from the left by full-back Ben Dyson on the end of a fine run was only partially cleared and the ball eventually fell to Dale Marvell who fired his shot over the Greenford crossbar from close range.
Shortly afterwards, on the half hour, United finally succeeded in breaking the deadlock when Nathaniel Mensah drove in a shot from the edge of the Salts area which took a slight deflection before nestling in the far corner of the home net.
It was a deserved lead for the visitors but proved to be short-lived when just four minutes later Salts striker Kyle Hough played a low ball into the Greenford area to Liam Roberts who was fouled by central defender Kamal Akel with referee Chris Williams having no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Hough then stepped up to take the spot kick and made no mistake with a clinical finish to level the score, and that’s how it remained up to the break.
The second period continued in much the same vein as the first with United dominating possession and the Salts defending with dogged determination. Five minutes into the half Greenford were denied a second by Young who made an excellent save to prevent a Sandro Costa effort finding the back of the net, after the United left winger had been played through on goal following a neat interchange.
The visitors though did find the net from the resultant corner, when a deep Daniel Vincent corner was met by Charlie Connor who headed the ball back across the Salt’s six yard box for Mensah to stab home. However, the goal was disallowed by the assistant referee on the far side presumably deciding that Connor was in an offside position as it clearly couldn’t have been Mensah.
Greenford continued to press and create chances with an Akel effort leading to another corner on the hour, a Vincent shot well held by Conor on 65, an overhead Mensah effort that also went straight to Conor, and an incisive Costa run on 72 ending with a perfect ball played back into the box that somehow eluded the oncoming United forwards.
There were several scares for the visitors at the other end mainly following occasions when the ball was given away carelessly in midfield, but it still felt that at some point the winning goal for Greenford would eventually come.
It finally did with twelve minutes of normal time remaining. Another well-worked United move saw the ball played into Mensah inside the area with his back to goal. Mensah’s lovely turn and finish into the corner, which came in off the inside of the far post, gave Conor no chance.
To their credit the Epsom & Ewell players did not drop their heads but continued to provide strong defensive resistance to prevent the visitors adding a third and looked to pounce on any opportunities they had at the other end to grab a share of the spoils.
But Greenford held on to deservedly claim all three points. They will be looking to achieve the same in their two forthcoming home fixtures, against Hanworth Villa on Tuesday and Sutton Common Rovers next Saturday.
NGU Team: Ashley Davy, Carl Bower, Ryan Murphy, Stuart Muldrew, Kamal Akel, Charlie Connor, Nathaniel Mensah, Daniel Vincent (captain), Brian Testolin (Tom O’Regan 70), James Simmonds, Sandro Costa
(NOTE: There is also a very good report on this game on the Epsom & Ewell website.)
Despite Greenford dominating the opening quarter of this contest, resolute and committed defending by the young Epsom & Ewell team, along with several highly questionable offside decisions by the assistant referee, ensured keeper Conor Young was rarely tested, and he was able to deal comfortably with any on-target United efforts.
The first significant Salts attack came on 25 minutes following some sloppy play by the visitors. A cross from the left by full-back Ben Dyson on the end of a fine run was only partially cleared and the ball eventually fell to Dale Marvell who fired his shot over the Greenford crossbar from close range.
Shortly afterwards, on the half hour, United finally succeeded in breaking the deadlock when Nathaniel Mensah drove in a shot from the edge of the Salts area which took a slight deflection before nestling in the far corner of the home net.
It was a deserved lead for the visitors but proved to be short-lived when just four minutes later Salts striker Kyle Hough played a low ball into the Greenford area to Liam Roberts who was fouled by central defender Kamal Akel with referee Chris Williams having no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Hough then stepped up to take the spot kick and made no mistake with a clinical finish to level the score, and that’s how it remained up to the break.
The second period continued in much the same vein as the first with United dominating possession and the Salts defending with dogged determination. Five minutes into the half Greenford were denied a second by Young who made an excellent save to prevent a Sandro Costa effort finding the back of the net, after the United left winger had been played through on goal following a neat interchange.
The visitors though did find the net from the resultant corner, when a deep Daniel Vincent corner was met by Charlie Connor who headed the ball back across the Salt’s six yard box for Mensah to stab home. However, the goal was disallowed by the assistant referee on the far side presumably deciding that Connor was in an offside position as it clearly couldn’t have been Mensah.
Greenford continued to press and create chances with an Akel effort leading to another corner on the hour, a Vincent shot well held by Conor on 65, an overhead Mensah effort that also went straight to Conor, and an incisive Costa run on 72 ending with a perfect ball played back into the box that somehow eluded the oncoming United forwards.
There were several scares for the visitors at the other end mainly following occasions when the ball was given away carelessly in midfield, but it still felt that at some point the winning goal for Greenford would eventually come.
It finally did with twelve minutes of normal time remaining. Another well-worked United move saw the ball played into Mensah inside the area with his back to goal. Mensah’s lovely turn and finish into the corner, which came in off the inside of the far post, gave Conor no chance.
To their credit the Epsom & Ewell players did not drop their heads but continued to provide strong defensive resistance to prevent the visitors adding a third and looked to pounce on any opportunities they had at the other end to grab a share of the spoils.
But Greenford held on to deservedly claim all three points. They will be looking to achieve the same in their two forthcoming home fixtures, against Hanworth Villa on Tuesday and Sutton Common Rovers next Saturday.
NGU Team: Ashley Davy, Carl Bower, Ryan Murphy, Stuart Muldrew, Kamal Akel, Charlie Connor, Nathaniel Mensah, Daniel Vincent (captain), Brian Testolin (Tom O’Regan 70), James Simmonds, Sandro Costa
(NOTE: There is also a very good report on this game on the Epsom & Ewell website.)
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