Chessington & Hook United 1 Epsom & Ewell 1

With Gary Puckett out through injury, it was Robbie Sheridan who made his debut at the back for Chessington, who almost scored early on from Neil Wick's deep free kick, the ball comes off Sheridan's head to James White, but his shot was way off target.

But it was Epsom who called the shots as they attacked with real pace in the early minutes, and they could have put the result beyond doubt after just eight minutes, hitting the crossbar and the upright in quick succesion, then Mark Daniels had to be at his best to stop a firm drive from close range.

Five minutes later, a corner from the left comes over, Daniels misses with his punch as the forward gets his head to the ball, only for Paul West to head off the line!

Wicks was fouled time after time, going off for treatment, but the Referee would have no more of it as he booked Epsom's number seven for persistent fouls.

Epsom's long ball forward was causing the home side problems, & it was one of these long balls that found Robbie Burns as he sprinted forward into the penalty box, but it was Sheridan who made it a debut to remember as he brings down Epsom's centre forward for a penalty.

0 - 1 as the penalty kick hits the back of the net.

It seemed the referee could do no right as he pulled the game up time after time for some innocuios tackles, & making many mistakes for both sides.

Chessington settled down now & had a number of chances & just before half time, Wicks's corner found Bennett at the far post, his header was saved at the first attempt, but the keeper couldn't stop his second header from going over the goal line for the equaliser as Cheadle & Page both celebrated as if they had scored from close range.

Bennett informs me it was his goal, so i'll credit to him.

As Epsom made one last attack, there was some confusion with the linesman's flag going up. he called the referee over & booked Bennett for alleged verbal. Strange!

We took the game on at restart & Andy Heaths pass to Wicks on the right was crossed for Page, he challenged the 'keeper, but came second, then Page again does well on left to get a shot in.

Epsom's number 11 gets booked for some nonsense with Glen Nichols, then they send in a deep corner which is headed goal bound but just wide.

Martin Gange came on for Wicks with 15 minutes left to play, & immediately injects some purpose into a game that was stop/start with niggly fouls as neither team wanted to lose, but Page gets in a great cross with eight minutes left to play, the cross was met by Andy Heath at the near post who bundled the ball over the goal line, so he says, but the referee said the ball never went over the line as the 'keeper clears it!

Bennett then had a moment of madness as his back pass is pounced on by the forward, but Sheridan makes a saving tackle to save his blushes.

Jesse Davis comes on for White after Glen Nichols goes down with a head injury, but lives to fight another day as the game closes to a fiercely contested draw.

Next match: Saturday (3pm) at home to Horley Town, HOME.