FOOTBALL: East Preston progress past Rustington

After a week of disappointing results in the John O'Hara Cup and FA Cup, EP gained a much welcome victory, and set up a third-round tie at home to Ringmer or Sidley.

With just two minutes left, and the game appearing to be heading for extra-time, Swain took control of a free kick from fully 30 yards out, near the far touchline. From the angle Swain had to negotiate, a cross into the box looked the most likely option. But he had other ideas and unleashed a shot into the top left corner past dumbfounded Blues keeper Andy McCarthy, and sent the home dugout into raptures.

This was one of the few bright moments in a match lacking quality and clear scoring opportunities. Rustington, a division lower than their hosts, comfortably handled what East Preston had to offer, although the visitors threatened little themselves up front.

Rustington edged the first period, which I would have compared to watching girders rust '” it was that void of action.

Steve Kirkham's shot across goal on 42 minutes, following good approach work from Adam Plummer, was the closest Rustington came, while EP's best chance arrived on the stroke of half-time. Terry Dodd's header from 10 years was scrambled off the line by Jordan Tribe, who was an early replacement for the injured Duncan Barnes.

The lively Dodd was EP's biggest threat on the night, and his probing run on the left, just after the break, set up Dan McLaughlin, who shot wastefully at McCarthy.

Dodd was again involved on 66 minutes. His pass freed Charlie Oatway, whose excellent left-wing cross narrowly missed the head of Seb Keet, six yards out.

After EP introduced Asa Nicholson, the game finally opened up, and the last 10 minutes were an end-to-end affair.

Rustington's Sean Duffy delivered a host of threatening crosses into the box, which narrowly evaded his team mates.

After Swain's free kick, Oatway could have wrapped up the win with a second in the closing moments, but his shot was well gathered by the sprawling McCarthy.

EAST PRESTON: Fuller; Da Costa, Yelling, McLaughlin, Holman, Beeney; Oatway, Campbell, Keet, Swain; Dodd. Subs: Nicholson (Da Costa 68), Darwin (McLaughlin 70) Meeney, Ferrier.

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; Bibb, Pickford, Barnes; Duffy, Butt, Bennett, Cumber, Green; Kirkham, Plummer. Subs: Tribe (Barnes 17), Hatch (Kirkham 65), Smart (Plummer 79) Harris, Dowsett.

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