Sheerwater learned that keeper Drew Churchwell was leaving to go to New Zealand to play football on this night that turned into even an unhappy night for Drew and the Sheers as he was sent off for a second bookable offence in the second half.

The home match for Epsom & Ewell was played at Sheerwater due to their ground share facility being waterlogged so the Salts were playing their first competitive match of the year.

Sheers took the lead on 15 minutes through Archie Lowery who guided a volley into the top corner of the Salts net after Kareem Fosters Free kick into the Salts box was not cleared. On 36 minutes the Salts claimed a penalty with Obasanjo Akinniranye being brought down in the penalty box and then the Sheers keeper Drew Churchwell was cautioned for a rash challenge coming out of his area to take out a Salts forward.

The Sheers survived the Salts growing into the match with a 1-0 lead at the break.

In the second half on 62 minutes the Sheers keeper saw red for a second yellow card for holding up play from the Sheers free kick for off side. Elliot York took the gloves and played like a rush keeper coming forward to clear any through balls that came his way. Sheers Ethan Leeks got through on goal with just the keeper to beat with a shot that keeper Nabbad makes a great save for a corner. Aidan Larkin’s corner was fired into the centre of the goal that it appeared at the time that the ball went into the net from the grappling hand of keeper Nabbed but on view the ball was knocked over the Salts bar by their keeper. With Elliot York’s unwittingly being further out of his goal area the instinct of Salts Brendan Murphy- McVey shoots spectacularly from 30 yards into the top roof of the Sheers goal. on 82 minutes. Sheers looked like they were heading for a defeat as the Salts grabbed a second goal after a shot that Elliot York parried the initial shot from Brendan Murphy-McVey’s and the ball fell to Oba Akinniranye to fire into the Sheers net for 2-1 on 85 minutes. The 10 men of the Sheers kept battling with their belief and were rewarded with an equalising goal with the Sheers Matt Bryant’s persistence that led to Stefan Aiwone putting the ball into his own net.

A frustrating night for the Sheers to have to battle away due to be being put under pressure having to play without out keeper Drew Churchwell and with 10 men for 30 minutes.

Churchwell, Mackie C, Blampied, Lowery, Mackie G, York, Larkin, Leeks (Whitby 80) Ajibloa (Whitehead 87), Foster (Bryany 66), McLaughlin,

Not used Bailey, Boyden.