Epsom & Ewell FC faced off against higher division opponents Met Police FC in our second pre-season fixture at the Reg Madgwick Stadium in Cobham. The match, held at the unusual kick-off time of 11:00 a.m. was played under varied weather conditions, with the only element missing being snow!
A healthy crowd turned up despite the early start, and there were some familiar faces in the Epsom lineup following the defeat by Raynes Park Vale the previous Tuesday.
The game began with Met Police FC taking an early lead through a well-taken penalty. However, just two minutes later, Carl Obiltey leveled the score with his second goal of the pre-season. The first half concluded with a 1-1 scoreline, reflecting the balance of play.
Shortly after the second half commenced, Met Police FC regained the lead with a neat finish from one of their forwards. Epsom & Ewell found themselves under pressure for a period but managed to grow into the game, creating several chances to equalize.
The match ended on a contentious note after a reckless foul on our goalkeeper by a Met Police forward. The challenge was deemed worthy of only a yellow card, though many felt it deserved a straight red. Despite the heated finish, we look forward to our next challenge.
Epsom & Ewell FC’s next pre-season fixture is against Sutton United Development team at 3:00 p.m. next Saturday. This match will be our final game at the Reg Madgwick Stadium until we face Cobham later in the season. We encourage fans to come down and support the team in what promises to be another exciting test.