After last week’s poor performance, the boys needed to go out and prove themselves, or else we might have found ourselves struggling near the bottom of the table again after such an impressive start.

Harry Murphy came in for his debut at left-back, with Kionte Gillfillian-Waul moving up front to replace Obasanjo Akinniranye, who dropped to the bench. A bit of a shame for Oba, who was named our Man of the Match last week.
Jason Vincent replaced Jake Brown at centre-forward, with Jake also taking a place on the bench.

This was our first match at our new home at Chalky Lane, shared with our new landlords Chessington & Hook FC. The game was played in warm sunlight in front of a large crowd of 189, with a number of Epsom & Ewell Colts acting as mascots. It certainly felt like a new home and, as Antonios Nazereth said in his post-match interview, “We need to make this ground a fortress.”

The Kingfishers, relegated from Division One South of the Southern League last season, have had a difficult start to the new campaign. They sat in 17th place with 10 points from 10 games before today. The club has apparently been ravaged by Covid and had also lost their No. 1 keeper to a bad facial injury during the week.

Thatcham started the quicker of the two sides, earning a free-kick on their left-hand side, level with the 18-yard line. A good ball in was punched clear by Faebian in the Salts’ goal. We moved the ball upfield with some good passing, and from our right-hand side the ball was played into Jason Vincent, who found Luke Miller on the edge of the “D”. His first-time shot beat Ethan Wilson in the Thatcham goal.
Epsom & Ewell 1–0 Thatcham Town.

Just four minutes later, Luke had doubled our lead. A long ball out of defence found him again on the right. He picked up the ball just inside the Thatcham half and ran at goal, chased by a defender. Wilson came off his line but realised he was in no man’s land, and Luke’s shot deflected off the defender’s leg and over Wilson’s head into an empty net.
Epsom & Ewell 2–0 Thatcham Town.

Thatcham then started to get back into the game and created the better chances for a spell. A shot from No. 9 Paxford went safely past the post after Adam had lost the ball just outside the box. Their No. 3, Callum Winchcombe, finally tested Faebian in the 20th minute with a firm volley, which he held comfortably. Another chance came from a corner, but the header was high and wide.

We continued to play some nice football but lacked the clinical finishing we showed at the start of the season. It wasn’t until the 45th minute that Luke was put through again, this time by Adam Green. On a hat-trick, you might have expected Luke to go for goal himself, but he looked up and saw Ali Fofahan unmarked on the left. He played a lovely ball across for Ali to tap in for his fourth goal of the season.
Epsom & Ewell 3–0 Thatcham Town.

The referee blew for half-time, and the Salts went in ahead after a strong first half where they never really looked in any danger.

The second half began with the Salts kicking up the slight slope, and it looked like the third goal had knocked the stuffing out of Thatcham. The game continued in a similar vein, with plenty of passing through the middle but few real goal opportunities. Both keepers dealt comfortably with anything that came their way.

Brendan Murphy-McVey took a smart free-kick midway through the half, and his ball was met by Vincent, whose header went over the bar. On 72 minutes we made four substitutions, with Jake Brown, Emmanuel Limpo, Obasanjo Akinniranye and Connor McShane all coming on.

The Salts had the ball in the net in the 75th minute when a corner was turned in at the far post, but the referee ruled it out for a foul on the keeper. Callum Wilson then replaced Luis Oliveira to complete the changes.

We finally got a deserved fourth goal on 82 minutes. Connor McShane broke away down the right-hand side and slid a great ball across goal, where it was put away at the far post by Oba for his first Epsom & Ewell goal.
Epsom & Ewell 4–0 Thatcham Town.

There was little further action in the closing minutes, and the game finished with a comfortable 4–0 win for the Salts.

Thatcham made a spirited effort considering their struggles with illness and the loss of their main keeper, and we wish them all the best for the rest of the season.

For the Salts, it was an important victory after last week’s defeat, putting us back up the table with games in hand on everyone above us.

We face Tooting & Mitcham United next Tuesday, 14th October, at Chalky Lane (KO 7.45pm), before two away fixtures at Redhill and Alton. As always, the boys will be grateful for your support.