Old Epsomians 3-2 OMT

Old Epsomians 3-2 OMT

There are, more or less, three ways you can lose a football match at this level.

Sometimes, you lose by not turning up, wanting it, or really doing anything at all.

Other times, your Saturday is ruined by the undeniable fact that you’re simply not as good as your opposition.

While we are memorably (and recently) familiar with both these scenarios, last Saturday’s loss was a textbook example of the third (and absolute worst) way to lose a game.

We turned up, more than matched our opposition, and still managed to lose by the finest of margins.

And so continues the story of our season.

Buoyed by smashing and grabbing a 1-0 win at MTS just before Christmas, Epsom started strongly.

Demonstrating all the hallmarks of a textbook OMT bogey team, Epsom’s two actual footballers consistently combined to good effect, while their nine other big lads focussed on making a challenging pitch even more challenging.

Much like last week, our backs were against the wall from the whistle, and again, we responded well. January signing Arun Thind offered options again and again, and we defended well as a unit as Epsom ran down the hill at us. But our strong start was to count for nothing.

Just as we grew into the game, Ash, the inevitable victim of divine retribution for avoiding a fifth consecutive booking last week, was kneecapped on 20mins, robbing us of an extra body in midfield.

Soon after, we fell behind. After Epsom shuffled the ball wide for the umpteenth time, a cross bobbled in from the right, which was duly put in the top corner by their striker.

Undeterred, we went again, and started to impose ourselves on the game. A high press pinned Epsom in their own half, and though we kept moving the ball well, chances remained few and far between.

That is, until Rik lobbed the keeper from 40 yards to deservedly draw us level at the break. It’s easy when you know how.

The start of the second half mirrored the first, as we took our turn to run down the hill and seriously threaten the opposition goal.

Our pressure paid off on 55mins, as a corner caused chaos in Epsom’s six yard box, and Paul stabbed home from close range. We had done to Epsom what we’d done to Citizens, and grafted our way in front.

It looked, briefly, like another hard fought win was on the cards. However, it’s moments, not momentum, that decide matches, and we found ourselves on the wrong end of this game’s defining act.

As another corner was cleared from the OMT box, the smaller of their two footballers sent it arcing back towards the top corner with what Andy Townsend might call “interest”. Lewis, displaying technique that this form-obsessed writer would be proud of, tipped it over the bar. A stunning save.

Rightly pleased with himself, Lewis subsequently completed his transformation from lovable goalkeeper into much needed metaphorical hook for the final chapter of this match report.

As the next corner spun across the near post, Lewis, “man-marking the ball”, took one step forward, two steps back, and could only watch as someone (maybe me) mistimed a clearance to head the ball into our own net.

Once again, our best intentions inadvertently sum up our season.

You can probably guess what happened next. Another cross, a slight deflection, a very much more than slight diving header that puts us behind with 15 to play.

And then we huffed, puffed, and not for want of trying, failed to blow the house down. Ollie nearly scored from halfway, their keeper did well under crosses, and their big lads just about stayed big enough.

Today, we came up short. On other days this kind of performance would have been enough. On Saturdays to come, it probably will be.

This has been a season of consolidation. A season of, in some senses, a new found maturity. We play intelligent, fluid football in most situations these days. We don’t concede quite so many goals from corners. One of our team is, provably and deliberately, a father.

So, it’s probably best not to be too disheartened by games like Saturday, or teams like Epsom. We’re still headed in the right direction.

The last couple of seasons have been defined by winning. We’ve been a cup final team, rightly relishing the responsibility of being big fish in small ponds. We’ve got used to leading from start to finish.

This year has been slightly different. The same winning team spirit, pieeere application, but, as of yet, no definitive return to the heights we know we can hit.

We’re not far off though. In a game defined by moments, we have a squad filled with difference makers. In a mixed season, lacking anything close to a complete performance, we’ve achieved some of the biggest results in our history.

Beating Chigwell 1’s away with 10 men in the Arthur Dunn.

Ending citizens’ unbeaten record.

Beating Habs (again, obviously.)

The day everything clicks will be quite something.

It could be Saturday. See you there.