It was all smiles as the Surb put in an excellent display away from home against good opponents in Epsom & Ewell Old Boys to force the race for the league title into their hands.

For the start of the year Surbiton Town looked to be a team possessed as they enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening stages, with the back-three, once again marshalled by A. Sweeney, sitting high and forcing pressure upon Epsom & Ewell.

The Surb were clearly up to the task and were confident in moving the ball and creating space via constant movement and neat passing triangles, but they were unable to grab an early opener.

Epsom & Ewell were somewhat of a threat going forward, but the lone target-man in the 433 deployed by Epsom became isolated and often drifted wide in order to create space, but the flexibility of the Surbiton backline allowed for a central defender to block him out of the game as and when required, subsequently negating M. Francis from having to make any meaningful contribution in the early stages except for some good distribution.

N. Murphy looked a threat cutting in from left wingback and the movement from K. Topson on the opposite flank provided frequent opportunity but the Surb were not to find a breakthrough during the first 45 despite clearly dominating the game.

Changes at the break followed and D. Shortt, stepping in for his managerial debut, made an unorthodox switch that saw T. Keely enter the fray in central midfield and S. Bennett offer an outlet down the left side in place of C. Brown and N. Murphy respectively.

Fitness notwithstanding the boys in green looked a better side for the Christmas break and the changes injected increased pace against a tiring Epsom team. R. Geer, partnered by C. Banks up front, was unlucky to see his headed effort blazed just over the bar and with the game still tied, and approaching the hour mark, it was evident that Surbiton Town had to go for first blood.

J. Crawley stepped out of the midfield in the place of J. Molloy who came on and instantly asserted himself on proceedings as the team shifted into a more attacking 343 set-up. His first contribution saw him deep in his own half clearing a rare Epsom set piece, but just moments later, and with fresher legs than most, he was bombing down the right side of the pitch and demanding the ball from C. Banks near the half way line.

The ball did come over his shoulder and Molloy done well to take it in his stride before confidently depositing the ball over the Epsom & Ewell goalkeeper who could only look on as Molloy wheeled away in celebration following the most devastating counter attack anyone is likely to see in the Leatherhead leagues this season.

Almost instantly Epsom & Ewell looked defeated and were unable to stamp their authority on the game, despite their impressive 3-2 victory in the reverse fixture just a month prior.

T. Keely put the game beyond any reasonable doubt when he took a chance on the edge of the Epsom penalty area and rifled the ball into the top right of the net and rattled the neighbouring stanchion with insidious pace, cueing wild Surbiton celebrations on what had been a frustrating match for the most part.

K. Sweeney was pivotal in the midfield and won the ball back time after time before further changes saw E. Hogan enter the fray for his first game back from injury. He was unlucky not to cap his return with a goal, first blasting a volley over the bar following some intricate work in the box and later losing out to an Epsom defender and kamikaze goalkeeper who met him at the corner flag and done just enough to divert the ball away from the unattended goal.

A scare came as S. Bennett done well to clear a ferocious strike off the line and M. Francis came out confidently to pick up the pieces that Epsom could throw at the Surbiton defence. Epsom did find the net but the Surbiton back three held their line well and the tap-in was rightfully deemed to be from an offside position by the referee, allowing the game conclude at 2-0.

The Surb sit 2nd in the league, 4 points from the top, with 2 games in hand over the league leaders. Next week they take on Sporting Santos in the first ever competitive Surbiton Town Sports Club Derby in a 10:30 KO in the Surrey Cup.

UTS x

Matchday Squad: M. Francis, A. Banks, A. Sweeney, D. Shortt, N. Murphy, J. Crawley, C. Brown, K. Sweeney, K. Topson, C. Banks, R. Geer, T. Keely, S. Bennett, J. Molloy, E. Hogan.