Epsom and Ewell picked up maximum points for the fourth consecutive season at Larges Lane on Tuesday and recorded their first away league win since August.

Epsom skipper Graham Morris was making his 600th first team appearance but Mark Freeborough, Tim Smith and Simon Huckle were all missing so it meant a place in the starting line-up for the recently rejoined Marcus Kempster.

Epsom stormed into the lead after just 83 seconds, Kevin Webb floated in a free-kick from the right touchline and James Hall jumped highest to net his seventh of the season.

Keeper Dave Hyatt was in action shortly afterwards, palming over James Glynn's free-kick but Epsom quickly increased their lead when Jamie Buckley's deep cross found Adrian Toppin who netted from an acute angle.

Epsom withstood a fierce onslaught in first-half stoppage time. Hyatt tipped over Stuart Harte's dipping cross, and Andy Nimmo, with the aid of post and bar somehow kept out Glynn's corner.

The same player then saw his low shot deflect of an Epsom defender onto the foot of the post, bounce up invitingly for Gavin Smith, but he headed straight into Hyatt's arms, and another Glynn free-kick, rebounded off the post.

The second-half saw Epsom soaking up pressure but looking dangerous on the break with Kevin Webb's shot inches wide.

Bracknell squandered an excellent chance to pull a goal back as Smith rounded Hyatt but pondered too long and was robbed by a superb last-ditch tackle from Hall.

The miss was to prove costly as Epsom got the killer goal after 76 minutes when Webb was felled in the box and Nimmo made no mistake from the spot.

Simon Teague was denied a consolation when man-of-the-match Hyatt tipped his header over the bar to complete a memorable evening.

Epsom: Hyatt, Nimmo, Webb, Sinclair, Hall, Morris, Buckley, Toppin, Kempster (Loyza 85), Rogers, Stevens (Ingham 88).

January 31, 2003 12:30