On a dark and rainy day at the Reg Madgewick Stadium, Cobham took the opportunity to make it two wins in a row and start 2017 with a great team performance.
With Gray back from injury and Skipper Weighill returning from suspension, Cobham were able to add some real experience to their spine from their battling away win at Farleigh. Hugh Samuels also returned after a spell playing north of the border to partner Powponne in attack.
The Hammers started with some real intensity and some quick passing across the middle as they looked to impose themselves. Ross Cull had already sent in a dangerous cross and looked lively down the left before he sent a ball through for the onrushing Powponne on 10 minutes who expertly found the bottom corner with great precision to make it 1-0.
Epsom Athletic were getting men behind the ball and trying to compact the middle of the park to good effect to try and disrupt the home football and prevent West and Theodorus getting a grip of the game. In such circumstances, the game sometimes needs a star to unpick and unsettle a defensive structure. That man came in the form of young gun Ayran Kugathas who was slid through by Samuels to round the keeper and grab his first of the afternoon on the half hour mark.
7 minutes later it was 3-0 after nice interplay starting from the keepers hands, Weighill found Theodorus who threaded the ball through for Kugathas with the latter firing a cross to the far post for the on rushing West to finish superbly.
Just as half time arrived, Samuels again released Cull this time who squared for Kugathas to get his second of the match with a composed finish.
Young Louie Annesley replaced the impressive Cull at half time and quickly got into the game with a surging run and cross in to the box with was scrambled away for a corner.
As Epsom once again found some shape, the game lost some of its tempo, Davis entered the fray and got on the scoresheet instantly. Good work from Nazareth on the right found Samuels whose initial shot was well saved leaving Davis to slot home the rebound.
On 66 minutes, Kugathas secured the match ball with a neat breakaway move. Annesley won the ball on the edge of the Cobham box and began to stride forward before rolling Samuels in to the opposition half, his ball in between the defence was latched on to by Kugathas who once again rounded the keeper and slotted home to complete the hattrick.
Cobham weren't done and neither was the diminutive number 10, good work from West and substitute Davies found Kugathas on the edge of the box who in turn found the top left corner with the goal of the game on 85 minutes before Davis grabbed his second to round off the scoring 2 minutes later.
A good team performance and a much needed boost to start the year off. Next up is Sheerwater away next Saturday.