North Greenford United suffered only their third league defeat of the season as Combined Counties leaders Epsom & Ewell beat them 3-2 on Saturday, writes Patrick Hillier.
In the first half, on a slippery pitch at Banstead Sports Centre, Greenford were slow out of the blocks and struggled to find their shape and rhythm.
Epsom & Ewell took the game to the visitors and, with United looking particularly vulnerable at the back, could have been two goals to the good in the first 10 minutes.
It came as no surprise when the home side took the lead on 15 minutes. Poor defending allowed Epsom's Dale Marvell a free strike on goal and his powerful shot into the corner gave Greenford keeper Gary Jallow no chance.
The fact that United were forced to make early substitutions, following injuries to both Ricky Pither and Sean Hillier, did not help their cause, but they managed to reorganise without conceding another early goal.
Almost out of the blue, and in the side's first significant attack of the game after 30 minutes, Greenford got themselves back into the game. Andre de Lisser got the better of Epsom left back Jamie
Hatfield and, on the end of a fine run down the right, delivered a perfect cross into the box which was met by Jack Bennett. Bennett made no mistake with his header, placing the ball well beyond the reach of Epsom keeper Paul Borg.
The goal lifted Greenford and they began to play with more confidence and selfbelief, but five minutes before the interval, United suffered a double blow that appeared to kill off any chance of winning this game.
First, Gary Jallow failed to hold on to a looping Marvell free-kick played in from the left. This was followed just two minutes later by the same player being allowed to run across the Greenford defence before striking a fierce low shot past Jallow for his hattrick and Epsom's third.
United began the second period looking determined to fight back, and with the home side appearing complacent, had clawed a goal back within five minutes of the resumption.
Michael Murray, taking a free-kick from almost the same spot out on the left as
Marvell's effort in the first half, delivered a lovely ball across the Epsom six-yard line which was helped on into the far corner by Gary Senior for the Greenford striker's 10th league goal since returning to the side in November.
Senior, Murray, Jack Bennett and substitute Andy Myhill all got themselves into good goal-scoring positions for Greenford as they tried to salvage a draw, but it was not to be.
United have the opportunity to get back on track with two home games - against Egham Town this coming Saturday and next week against Chessington & Hook.
