Combined Counties League Division One
Farleigh Rovers 2 Epsom Athletic 2
FARLEIGH Rovers let a lead slip, dropping two points against Epsom Athletic.
Barry Regelous' side seemed to be coasting home to another victory, leading lowly Epsom Athletic 2-0 with only ten minutes remaining, only to press the self destruct button inexplicably.
Pre-match plans were boosted still further following the previous Saturday's 2-1 league success at Bedfont & Feltham with the speedy return to the club of star striker Martin Smith, who rejoined from Ryman League side Walton & Hersham.
Yet it was player-manager Luke Reynolds' visitors who dominated the first half surprisingly, coming closest to breaking the deadlock on the half-hour mark when Aaron Cathcart's cross from the left saw defender Gary Webb nearly net an own goal at the far post before Taylor Mollatt missed another golden chance at the other post for a miraculous escape.
Indeed, a minute later the visitors, despite missing injured leading scorer Wayne Cathcart, were left cursing their bad luck again when Joe Eastwood's deep free kick saw Mark Webb's effort rebound to safety off the crossbar.
Epsom Athletic were exploiting the space left in front of Foxes' promising right back Daniel Canning, but another instructive interval team talk from boss Regelous appeared to have done the trick for Foxes for a second successive Saturday.
After all, only two minutes after the break, Farleigh forgot their first-half lethargy and led through in form striker Javaun Henry who finished off an incisive passing move from close range following fine approach play by increasingly influential midfielder Jamie Jagdeo and Smith down the left flank.
Success seemed to be assured after 71 minutes when Foxes' man of the match centre back Liam Neaves beat goalkeeper Jason MacGregor from a penalty which was awarded by referee Nigel Walker following MacGregor's foul on Smith from goalkeeper Andrew Osei's long clearance, although MacGregor remained on the pitch despite having been cautioned after 28 minutes.
A spectacular 30 yard strike from visiting captain Barry Corder went just inside the top netting, giving Osei no chance, for an unlikely 80th minute goal which set up an exciting finale as Foxes lost the plot following fine attacking play from right back Aaron Williams.
Worse was to follow after 87 minutes when the unlikely equaliser arrived from the penalty spot, Corder converting for his brace, just beating Osei from 12 yards after Dan Drake was penalised for pushing fellow substitute Jim Eastwood in the back following Mollatt's cross.
After 89 minutes Osei was sent off for fouling substitute Eastwood, having been booked after 38 minutes for another foul, and Neaves saw out the remaining seven minutes of added time capably in goal as tempers became heated in a bizarre finale.
Farleigh Rovers: Andrew Osei, Daniel Canning (Luke Stevens 83 mins), Gary Webb, James Brown (Scott Robson 72 mins), Adam Cassim (capt), Liam Neaves, Ellis Burke (Dan Drake 78 mins), Jamie Jagdeo, Martin Smith, Tim Moffatt, Javaun Henry. Unused sub: Jack Naraine.
