William Kendall scored a late eight minute hat-trick for Epsom and Ewell to end Phoenix Sports’ hopes of progressing beyond the F.A. Cup Extra Preliminary round.
They had drawn the initial game at Epsom on Saturday but Keith McMahon’s new look Phoenix side were unable to make the most of their home advantage. All eleven of their starters, plus the substitutes who came on, were making their home debuts having had little time together to gel.
Their task wasn’t helped when they lost their playmaker, Noah Joyce, early on. By that stage, Kendall had already missed a great chance when heading Ethan Nelson-Roberts deep cross back beyond the far post with the goal gaping.
Midway through the first half, Phoenix went ahead. Jack Marney picked out captain Marcus Travers with a far post corner, and the centre-back headed home from close range.
Carl Oblitey headed over for the visitors before Marney’s free kick flew over at the other end. Eri-Oluwa Akintimehin had the last goal attempt of the first half for Phoenix but his ambitious effort flew well wide.
After the break, Marney for the hosts, and Luke Miller for Epsom, both had shots saved and held at the second attempt, and Phoenix goalkeeper Rob Budd was again called into action when making a comfortable save from Oblitey.
Akintimehin’s strong run down the wing created an opening for Alfie Bloomfield. He struck his shot sweetly, but wide of the near post.
Fabio Nunes tried his luck for the Salts with a free kick but the defensive wall did its job and deflected it wide for a corner. Miller’s delivery found Toby Young but he had to lean back to meet it and it floated wide.
Alfie Young’s long range shot for the Sports flew wide before Epsom levelled with thirteen minutes remaining. Oblitey’s perfectly weighted through ball sent Kendall clear and he made no mistake with a clean shot into the bottom corner.
Six minutes later, and with extra time looming, Miller broke into the area and was pulled back for a clear-cut penalty. Kendall took the responsibility and struck it home.
He completed his hat-trick two minutes later when Budd failed to claim a long clearance allowing Kendall to run past him and roll it into the empty net.
On Saturday, McMahon takes his new team to Hythe Town for the start of their league campaign.
Phoenix Sports: Budd, Diamande, Young, Chang-Brown, Mayhew, Travers, Marney (Okunlola 84), Joyce (Browne 16), Bloomfield, Browne, Akintimehim (Dada 75).
Subs not used: Gaggin, Carnell-Davis, Dasho.
Goal scorers: Travers (23)
Yellow cards: Marney, Okunlola
Epsom and Ewell: Witter, Young, Wilson, Grant-Green, Dundas (Tierney 70), Nunes, Miller, Adeyemi, Kendall, Oblitey, Nelson-Roberts.
Unused subs: Antony, Negassi, Ingram-Wright.
Goal scorers: Kendall (77), (pen 83), (85)
Yellow cards: Witter, Adeyemi
Referee: Thomas Nicholls
Assistants: Gary Baker and Alec Spoja
Attendance: 108
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.