Losing 0–4 to the runaway league leaders, Cobham, last Saturday was one thing, but last night’s performance, described by some of our supporters as the worst they have seen, was totally unacceptable in terms of passion and team spirit. We looked like a team totally devoid of any ideas, and our last home win is now back in October against a poor Thatcham United side. We made five changes to Saturday’s team, and maybe this is where we are struggling, with constant changes in the starting eleven due to suspensions and injury. Oddly enough, there were no yellow cards last night. This could be a good thing, as players kept their composure, but it also might show a lack of fight in the tackle — who knows.

The game started off OK, with a nice ball through to Tyler Robinson, who ran onto it, shrugging off the centre-back, but his shot was poor and cleared the bar and the back end of the stadium. Oba, returning to the starting eleven, seemed to have a good understanding with Oliveira, and they made a couple of good runs down our right, but the balls into the box were poor and no one managed to get on the end of them. At the other end, Ben Grummitt had to be quick off his line to clear a through ball. On five minutes, though, Badshot took the lead with some slick passing, and a good ball from the left was volleyed back across the goal from Badshot No.10 and tapped in at the far post by No.9 Luis Hamblin.
Epsom & Ewell 0–1 Badshot Lea

From then on, we were struggling to cope with their wingers, and they played the ball quickly and accurately between themselves, whilst we always seemed to be hurried and the final pass went astray far too many times. Badshot Lea continued to press, and Grummitt made a save after another good ball across the goal, but the forward was stretching and didn’t quite get there. Nelson-Roberts was also forced into a last-ditch tackle to prevent No.11 Jones adding to the score. It didn’t take long, though, for Badshot to find the net again. This time the goal came through the midfield. We lost the ball again, and No.9 Hamblin picked it up and slotted a nice ball into the path of No.4 Vangrove, who beat Grummitt with a nice finish into the back of the net.
Epsom & Ewell 0–2 Badshot Lea

Only four minutes later it was three, when after more slick passing down our left, the ball was played across and found No.10 unmarked, and he finished without any pressure.
Epsom & Ewell 0–3 Badshot Lea

We struggled to find any response, and the Badshot keeper, Roan Strong, had nothing to do except pick the ball up from behind his goal when we did manage to have a go. This was down to a couple of free kicks given just outside the box, but they were poor finishes, and any chance of getting one back before the break and perhaps keeping us in the game disappeared, and we went in three down.

The second half was no different, unfortunately, and Badshot came out to finish us off. Good movement down our left found a forward on goal, and there was a good save from Grummitt before the ball bounced around and was eventually cleared. Then another ball into the box was cleared off the line by Stefan Aiwone. But Badshot soon got their fourth, as a long ball was missed by Aiwone and allowed No.7 Vangrove to clear on goal. Aiwone chased back and caught him in the box, but the challenge was desperate and he only managed to go through the back of him, and the referee pointed to the spot with no real challenge. Hamblin tucked the ball away down the centre of the goal.
Epsom & Ewell 0–4 Badshot Lea

Two minutes later it was five, when a throw-in on our right found Stan Jones with his back to goal and seemingly nowhere to go, but he managed to turn his man and scored with a good shot after a good bit of skill.
Epsom & Ewell 0–5 Badshot Lea

Nathan West had replaced Nazareth earlier, and we then brought the final four subs on in quick time, but we were unable to change the game. Soon after, we had our first shot on target when Robinson went on a good run and Strong made a good save low to his left. We started to put some good moves together, but Badshot had decided to shut up shop and just sat back and challenged us to get past them. We tried but didn’t have the invention to get through. Badshot then came down our end on our right side again, and an innocuous challenge from Oliveira, where he claimed to play the ball, was ruled a foul, and the referee pointed to the spot again. Substitute No.18 Ben Jordan sent Grummitt the wrong way.
Epsom & Ewell 0–6 Badshot Lea

There was no further action, and the game finished 0–6. We now face a difficult game away at Balham, who are second bottom but only six points behind with a game in hand. We really need to get a run together just to stay away from a difficult period. Our next home game is on Saturday 27th December v Corinthian Casuals. KO 3pm, so we hope to see you there.