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Alton 2 - 2 Epsom & Ewell

23 Oct 2025

Match report by Dave Hawtin

Two late goals, one of which was very late in injury time, rescued a point for the visitors. But that does not tell the full story of the game which was punctuated with decisions and choices that ultimately decided the fate of the game.

After the early exchanges the first incident of note came 25 minutes in. An off the ball incident in the middle of the pitch, the referee issued a straight red card to Alex Macallister. There was no doubt a coming together which very few in the stadium actually saw and to be honest the referee couldn't have seen as it was behind him but that said he had a decision to make .... and he did.

It was already going to be a competitive game, and it now became even tougher for the home side who would spend the next 75 minutes, yes 75, another 10 minutes additional time at the end, which appears to be the norm these days.

On 31 minutes the home side were awarded a penalty when the referee judged that James Liddiard had been fouled in the penalty area. To say it was harsh might be slightly understating the decision but if the referee was trying to make right a wrong then that is how it looked.

Cue some timewasting and a routine that a professional gymnast would have been proud of as the visiting keeper bounced around his goal line trying to put off Adam Poynter. It didn't. He just kicked the ball into the opposite corner of the net to the one the goalkeeper chose to dive to, much to the amusement of the home supporters.

Much to do for the home side in the second half and to a man they so very nearly managed it. They kept the opposition at arm's length restricting them to very few chances whilst trying to maintain a threat on the break with home keeper Ashby Hammond alert to any real threat on goal.

On 68 minutes Josh Stepney went on a dazzling run that left 4 Epsom players in his wake as he drove towards goal. He then somehow managed to slip Matt Benham in and he was only thwarted by a great save by the visiting keeper who somehow deflected the ball wide of the far post.

With time running out, a second goal for the home side. Adam Poynter bamboozled a couple of defenders and rolled a ball across the penalty area where young debutant David Garlinge arrived to calmly drive the ball into the far corner.

In the excitement of the moment the visitors took advantage and struck back immediately breaking through to slot home at the near post.

The toll of the effort that the home side had put into the game was now telling and the equaliser came on 96 minutes. Clever play on the byline by a wide player allowed a colleague to slide the ball in at the back post, game over.

Two other incidents of note that will no doubt frustrate the home side, a blatant push in the chest on Poynter in front of the officials whilst the game was stopped was not punished (said visiting player had already earned a yellow card so a second of course would have resulted in a red). Then an ugly incident that no one wants to see, Josh Millo was forcefully man handled into the pitch side barriers at speed. Fortunately he was not injured but recent events left people concerned.

It must be remembered that the role of a football official is far from easy and on most occasions their decisions will incur the wrath of one of the two sides and their supporters. They will make mistakes. Tonight there were some important ones taken that the majority in the stadium might have an 'opinion on'.

Great effort by the home side. Mention should be made of the young Alton full debutant David Garlinge, not only did he score but he more than held his own with his team mates under testing circumstances.

Alton will complete the run of four consecutive home games this Saturday when Chipstead will the visitors to The Exclusive Networks Stadium, 3pm kick-off.