The game finished 1-1 and we “dropped” another 2 points. Whilst you can never tell the final results of every game, we calculate we have lost 7 points since the beginning of October, having been in the lead for the majority of the game.

More changes to the team were required due to further suspensions and injuries. The former we need to get a grip of, as the constant chopping and changing makes life difficult to get a settled side that might grow in confidence and hold out in difficult situations, although there was nothing really difficult on Tuesday.

Ben Grummitt retained his place in goal as Faebian is still injured, Connor McShane came in for the suspended Luis Oliveira and Ethan Nelson-Roberts replaced the injured Harry Murphy (Saturday’s man of the match). In midfield, Ryley Merritt came in for Brendan Murphy-McVey and Jason Vincent returned in place of Obasanjo Akinniranye. It was good to see Ethan Brazier on the bench again after a long injury battle.

The conditions, with the swirling wind and rain, made play difficult, and this was reflected in our lowest crowd of the season at 68. We started well with the conditions, and Jason Bloor won a free kick early on, going through a couple of tackles and eventually being brought down, but the free kick from McShane went over the bar. On 10 minutes, Niall Stillwell fell awkwardly after going in for a challenge, and after a lengthy stop on the field, he had to be assisted off the pitch with a dislocated shoulder. He was in great pain going back to the dressing room, where an ambulance was called. We fear he will be out for months rather than weeks. Brendan Murphy-McVey had an early start off the bench.

We had all the early play. Ali Fofahan had a half-chance but put the ball over the bar, and Bloor got to the byline with a great cross. Jason Vincent, coming in on the far post, got his foot to it, but Josh Selby in the Eversley goal got across and somehow managed to keep it out. We continued to dominate and won a few corners that McShane put into great positions, but no one could get their head to it. Kionte also had a long-range effort when he really should have put the ball to Nelson-Roberts, who was in yards of space on our left. On 42 minutes, we finally got our reward when another attack had Ali Fofahan in the box, and he was brought down from behind, leaving the referee with no option but to point to the spot. Ali took the penalty himself, driving the ball into the bottom right-hand corner. The keeper guessed right but the shot was too powerful. We had one more corner before the end of the half, but we went in at half-time 1-0 up.

HT Epsom & Ewell 1-0 Eversley and California

We were good value for our lead but really should have been 2 or 3 up, as the visitors had no real attacks or deserved anything.

The second half started with Eversley enjoying the best of the conditions, with the rain coming down harder, but we were still in control of the game. On 52 minutes, we gained another free kick from Bloor being brought down near the box, but again the free kick evaded everyone, and Selby made an easy catch. Ryley Merritt was then played in, and he controlled the ball into the box, but his shot was saved by the keeper’s feet. Another good chance was missed, and another corner was wasted after. Obasanjo replaced Kionte and Tom Collins replaced Bloor on 73 minutes. The changes worked in that we continued to create chances but still couldn’t find the important second goal.

Eversley & California seemed to grow in confidence as they knew one chance might be all they needed. On their first real attack in the second half, Eversley found their way into the box, and a good shot was blocked for a corner by Aiwone. The first one went across goal and was cleared for another corner, but this time Ross Baker found the far side of the net direct from the corner.

We then tried everything to get the winner. Ethan Brazier returned to replace McShane, and Teddy Ralph came on for Ryley Merritt. We pushed hard but couldn’t find the composure to put the ball away. We had at least six good chances in the last 10 or so minutes, but each one went wide or high. There was a small opportunity provided when Nathan Mindomba appeared to hit out at Brendan after a collision that found both players on the floor and wrestling to get up. The referee showed the red card after talking to the linesman. It was too late to take any real advantage as there were only six minutes left, but it has continued our run of failing to beat sides when we have a man advantage.

We continued to push but couldn’t find that one chance, and the game finished, much to the travelling fans’ delight, at 1-1, having seen their team concede 10 goals in the last two games.

FT – Epsom & Ewell 1-1 Eversley and California

That is now eight games without a win and really not playing well. We again are just unable to close out a game. Horley, Tooting & Mitcham and Abbey are good sides, so you may expect one of them to get a late goal, but Eversley are probably the weakest side we have seen down here, yet they are going home with a point. We sit in 17th place, only five points off the relegation places. We have also lost our advantage of games played, and in fact two teams below us now have games in hand, and the next five clubs above have all played fewer than us.

We face a tough game on Saturday away at The Eastwood, home of Sheerwater, chasing our first away win of the season. KO 3pm. Sheerwater are having a much better season than last and sit in 7th place, having taken 10 points from the last six games, in contrast to our four. Whilst we badly need a win, a repeat of our draw last season would be a welcome point considering recent form.

We return to Chalky Lane the following Saturday v Badshot Lea, who we really should have beaten away earlier in the season where we missed a penalty early on. Kick-off 3pm. We look forward to seeing you.