Epsom were pipped 5-3 by champions Richmond in a high quality Surrey/Hants League Division One clash at Blenheim School on Saturday.

Richmond dominated the opening stages, creating a barrage of early chances whilst Epsom looked tentative and only hung on thanks to a superb save from keeper Collin Savage, and some brave interventions from Nathan Hutchings and Brett Hosken.

Richmond finally got the goal they deserved after 20 minutes with a well worked short corner, deflected home on the right post.

Epsom were in need of inspiration and it arrived from a barnstorming run from Mike Atkinson, who came all the way from left hand side of midfield to win a short corner on the right wing.

From the resultant short corner, Mike Atkinson's strike was saved, but Paul Atkinson was on hand to put in the rebound to make it 1-1.

By the close of the half Epsom were starting to play with far more precision and confidence, and they went in to half time in the ascendancy and sensing a possible upset.

Epsom approached the second half full of confidence, but they conceded a short corner almost immediately which Richmond converted through an improvised reverse stick strike to make it 2-1.

This could have seen heads drop, but Epsom rallied and produced some superb hockey which meant that the remainder of the game became a real end to end thriller.

Epsom equalised when Jimmy Midmer jinked through the middle and set up Alex Pizzey to deflect home from close range. Richmond then took a 3-2 lead from the same short corner routine they had used in the first half, before Wade Joubert drew a good save from the Richmond keeper with a slick short corner routine.

Epsom player coach Immy Bhatti was by now causing mayhem with some trademark stick skills, and when he set up Russell Tebay to smash home to make it 3-3 it really was game on.

Richmond showed superb resilience however, and kept coming at Epsom, with James Marjoram having to make a superb interception to stop a potential one on one.

The pressure kept coming from Richmond however and eventually they took a 4-3 lead when a cross from the left found an unmarked forward just yards out.

Epsom poured forward in search of a fourth equaliser, but Richmond defended well and then scored a swift counterattack goal just before the close to make it 5-3.

Epsom are now in a battle for second place with Reigate Priory, whose late season surge has put them right into contention.

Epsom need a win away at Chichester 2s on the last day of the season to make sure of the playoff spot that would give them a chance of promotion.