Lingers Cruise In Vase - Lingfield vs. Epsom And Ewell

Impressive clouds over Godstone Road

I had a couple of engagements in Croydon this Saturday evening so I needed a game which would be easy to return from to Croydon. Luckily, Lingfield were at home to Epsom and Ewell in The FA Vase. Lingfield were in their first season in The Southern Counties East League following their sideways move from The Sussex League. They are definitely the team to watch in terms of goals having scored 33 and conceded 54 goals in their 15 games so far this season. They had also scored a hat full in the cups, losing to Greenwich Borough 6-2 in the league cup and beating Cobham 4-0 in their previous game in The Vase. Epsom were enjoying a more stable start to the season and were in the top half of The Combined Counties Premier Division. The one previous time I remember seeing Epsom and Ewell was at Guildford City in The Combined Counties where they lost two one. 

Kick off in The Vase

Lingfield take an early lead and this would set the tone for the rest of the game. The forward finds himself all alone in the area following a cross to the back post and he nods the ball home as the visiting defenders appeal in vain for offside. The home side then think they should have a penalty as the winger hits the ground after cutting inside but the referee is not interested. Epsom's first chance is a low, powerful shot at the back post which the Lingfield keeper does well to keep out. They come close again as the forwards just fail to connect with a bending cross at the back post. Lingfield then have another penalty shout and this one is given. It is again the winger who is felled in the box and the penalty is buried in to the top left corner of the net. Lingfield are on the attack now and the Epsom keeper has to be alert to cut out a couple of dangerous balls in to the area. An Epsom long throw causes chaos and the Lingfield keeper makes another good save from the resulting diving header. Lingfield then get the third just before half time to put them in a dominant position at half time.

One nil Lingfield

Epsom need a goal quickly and they come very close to getting it. The Lingfield keeper loses the ball and the ball is cleared off the line by the Lingfield defenders. Lingfield then break quickly as they try to finish off the game and it takes a great challenge by the centre back to stop the forward being clean through on goal. The defence is helpless as following another quick break away the forward is free on the right hand side of the box and he lashes the ball home. To their credit, Epsom keep on going and the Lingfield defence doesn't fully clear the ball following a corner but the ball is lashed over the bar. Lingfield then have yet another quick break but this time the chipped effort goes just wide. In the closing stages both sides score a goal each as Lingfield march on.

The cricket pitch side of the ground

Trains to Lingfield depart from Victoria and the journey takes just under fifty minutes. The ground is then a twenty walk from the station. In between the station and the ground is The Old Cage which had several ales on and also had Sky Sports. Right across the road is The Greyhound which also has Sky Sports and seemed quite popular for food. The bar at clubhouse did the job once the keys for the beer fridge were found! On the way back to the station I had the best sausage and chips in a while from Lingfield Traditional Fish and Chips next door to The Greyhound.

There was a decent crowd for this Vase tie