EL RECORDS PREMIER CHALLENGE CUP 2ND ROUND A game that always threatened to be somewhat of a banana skin for Epsom & Ewell proved to be just that at Osterley Sports Club on Saturday as Epsom, who had taken the lead just after the break were dumped out of the Combined Counties League Cup by their Division One opponents.

Like Epsom and Ewell, CB, newcomers to the league this season were also seeking their first win of the season, but they were prepared to grind out a result with sheer hard graft, a facet of the game that Epsom sadly lacked.

An early chance saw John Baah shoot just wide after turning onto Philip N'gbale's pass and the home side had Ryan Russell booked for an early rustic challenge on Danny Davies, Davies continued after lenghty treatment on an ankle injury, but failed to emerge for the second half.

A deep Russell cross was headed by away from Hussein and behind for a corner by Rob Lovesey and a stooping header from Tim Hurren from Mark Solomon's cross was just over.

A free-kick on the edge of the box saw Danny Davies just wide from a half-clearance and another free-kick saw Dale Marvell's low effort round the wall gathered by keeper Conybear.

John Baah was well wide with a cross-shot but in injury time, Mark Solomon saw his effort blocked, and from the rebound his shot came back of the post but Epsom went ahead in the second minute of the second half when Mark Solomon's cross was steered past Conybear by a Dale Marvell header.

A game of many strange refereeing decisions saw a controversial incident when John Baah turned Adam Roberts just outside the box, but he was yanked down by his shirt as he went clear, the referee going back to book CB's Franklin for what must have been an earlier infringement, and despite a discussion with one of his assistants, Roberts got off scot-free when he could well have seen red.

CB equalised after 71 minutes when Mark Solomon tried to shield the ball out for a throw, but Philips nipped in to knock the ball down the line and cross for Hussein to ram in at the far post.

Five minutes later and Epsom were behind, with the officials seemingly content to let an ongoing verbal spat between N'gbale and Putman sort itself out, a quick free-kick and break saw Hussein grab his second goal of the game.

Epsom had Tim Hurren and Philip N'gbale booked, the latter for dissent as a raucous group of home supporters behind the goal became somewhat abusive, a Johnston headed clearance from a cross was mysteriously construed as a goal kick by the officials as Epsom pressed for an equaliser, and they nearly got it but a stoppage time effort from the edge of the box by Dean Fullerton from Dale Marvell's corner was pushed over by Conybear.

An unsavoury finish to the game saw a home supporter head for Philip N'gbale at the final whistle, with no action being taken from the officials.

Spare a thought for Epsom keeper Neil Harrowing, very little to do for the entire afternoon, except to pick the ball out of the back of his net twice.

Epsom and Ewell: Neil Harrowing, Richard Ingham, Mark Solomon(sub.Danny Barnes 72 mins), Rob Lovesey, Tim Hurren, Dean Fullerton, John Baah(sub.Charlie Pritchard 76 mins), Andy Amfo-Brobbey, Danny Davies(sub.Neil Talling 45 mins), Dale Marvell, Philip N'gbale. Other sub: Joseph Maye(not used).