Ewell’s hopes of an extended run in this year’s league cup competition were undermined by the threadbare match day squad for this Second Round fixture, in which Bunde was once again drafted in as an outfield player, serving as Ewell’s sole substitute for a game that could potentially go to extra time. Nevertheless, Ewell sent out an attacking side that were more than capable of booking their place in the next round. They started the game confidently, unperturbed by the division gap that separates the two sides at present, equipping themselves well in the challenge and building patiently from the back. They reaped the rewards of their encouraging start when a neat interchange around the edge of the box freed Hodge. Unable to dink the ball over the advancing keeper, his effort fell fortuitously for Keogh, though there was nothing accidental about the striker’s follow up, in which he calmly placed the ball in the top corner using his right foot. This proved that Ewell’s self belief going into the game was vindicated, and from then onwards they weathered a period of pressure from the away side, reaching the interval with their lead intact. The break allowed the players some much needed rest time, as they had expended a great deal of energy hassling their opposition and ensured that they were not given time to dictate proceedings. However, the cracks started to appear in Ewell’s resolve soon after the restart as legs began to tire, and they narrowly survived a scare when Ransom nonchalantly allowed a goal bound effort to bounce off the woodwork and into his grateful arms. Ewell fought doggedly to preserve their slender lead but were unable to carve out any opportunities of note, barring a slick one-two between Kelly and Hodge that set up an chance for the former, though his shot sliced wide of the mark. Ewell’s rearguard action was eventually breached after the hour mark, when an opposition player was allowed to ghost in at the back post and bundle the ball home. The home team rallied and introduced Bunde in the hope of freshening things up, and it almost worked immediately when he was picked out on the right hand side of the penalty area, yet his eagerness to impress proved to be his undoing, as his cry of ‘leave it’ resulted in a free kick. Ewell dug in and were within touching distance of sending the game into extra time which, regardless of the state they would have found themselves in for the additional half hour, would have marked an admirable achievement. Yet it wasn’t to be as the away team burgled a late goal, gambling in the penalty area after Ransom had made a save. Ewell made the switch to 352 in the hope of rescuing a goal but their race had been well and truly run by this point, as the task of containment had understandably taken its toll and left a number of weary legs. However, they pressed on nonetheless and conceded a third on the counter – though this was undeserved on the whole as Ewell were certainly not outclassed by their opponents. One competition down and three to play for, Ewell will lick their wounds and hope to avenge this result and their early season league defeat when they host current table toppers Cheam Village Warriors Reserves next week at Fortress Nescot.