In a first for EECFC, an U18 Girls team took to the pitch for their opening competitive fixture of the season.
Facing an under strength Staines Lammas, manager Errol McGlothan elected to maintain the teams long-held ethos of fair play and in the interest of ensuring a competitive match, by reducing the home side to match Staines, so the game started 10 v 10 with Epsom playing towards the club house and into the wind.
Epsom started the game well with control of possession, creating a number of half-chances early on and limiting Staines to a couple of counter attacks. However, despite some good build up play the decision making in the final third was seeing chances go to waste and allowing Staines to get back and block too often.
The first goal came against the run of play. From a Staines break away the ball broke in the box, and an attempted clearance by the left back was sliced into the Epsom net for an own goal (0-1).
The goal lifted the away team and they started creating some better chances, taking more control of midfield. Epsom struggled to get back into the rhythm they had initially created.
Half Time 0-1
In the second half, the tide changed. Staines lost a player through injury and this time, Epsom retained their numbers and shape. Initially the deficit didn’t seem to phase the away side and they were creating some good chances, especially down their right side. Epsom’s goalkeeper was called into action a few times to come out and claim the ball.
Eventually, a combination of the additional player, playing into the wind and some great play in midfield by Epsom took its toll on Staines. Summer Kerrins, who had moved into right midfield broke down the right side into the box and turned her player, driving in towards goal she powered the ball in low and the keeper could only get a hand to it as it deflected into the goal, 1-1.
Shortly after, a poor Staines clearance and good pressing from Epsom resulted in a corner. Eloise Deeprose lifted the ball into the near post and a mixup between the keeper and defender saw the ball end up in the Staines net for the second own goal of the game and what turned out to be the winning goal, 2-1.
Epsom had a number of chances to extend the lead after that, and Staines saw a break away effort go narrowly wide, but the final whistle came with the score still 2-1.
A good competitive game all around, a great to start the season, and the U18s Girls team make history with a win.
Full Time 2-1
Match Info
Ref: Paul Maylon
Venue: Glyn School playing fields
Goals:
- 0-1 OG
- 1-1 Kerrins
- 2-1 OG
EECFC Team:
Moore (Emerson), Dyer, Hargreaves, Balshaw, Kerrins, Deeprose, Binks, Cunningham (Gilbertson), Real-Firman, McGlothan
