Match Report : Laurence Taylor
Result : LOSS 2-4 vs Epsom
A 15.00 pushback on the show pitch against an Epsom team struggling for results – what more could we ask for?!
After last week’s excellent fightback against Old Loughts, Titans were missing players due to covid/isolation requirements and skipper Jatin ‘Bang Bang’ Patel who was shamefully missing this week moving furniture in preparation for home improvements.
We could have done with some of his movement on the pitch unfortunately, but we were bolstered by David ‘Wolfman’ Wolffe who was easily press ganged into the game after his exertions in the previous match and Umpire maestro Edwards in goal.
Titans began – as they do – slowly and after only 90 seconds had the gift aid forms filled out and submitted to the Epsom centre forward, as a loose pass from defence was picked up and coolly slotted under the advancing GK Justin – 0-1 to the visitors.
This hospitality seemed to shake Titans up and the passing and movement started to return as the home side dominated possession and took control.
Chances came and went but calmness in front of goal was missing until a short corner was won by Shami tricking his way through the tackles.
A slick push out, stop and slip back to injector Howie Wilson who swept the ball in at the near post – no more than deserved. The rest of the half was mainly Titans, but the domination came to nothing and we ended 1-1 at half time.
The half time team talk was simple – more of the same, keep moving the opposition about, albeit with Pokey ‘Presage’ Poulton’s words of ‘half time has come at the wrong time for us’ ringing in our ears.
Anyone watching on the live feed would have been forgiven for thinking that their internet connection was playing up, or the feed was stuck in pause as Titans seemed to forget anything good from the first half.
The stilted play allowed Epsom to get back into the game and within a few minutes the visitors had taken the lead.
The game continued in much the same vein as Titans struggled to up their levels.
At last, with about 10 minutes to go Woody dazzled the Epsom midfield and defence on the left, weaving his way through multiple tackles to then cross into the D.
Howard Clayden, showing his versatility in attack this week, calmly cushioned the ball, pirouetted round the defender and slotted the ball into the bottom left-hand corner. 2-2 and game on.
Unfortunately, the gift aid charity came straight back into play and in the last minutes of the game Titans managed to play perfect hosts and allow Epsom 2 late goals to take the game 2-4.