FOOTBALL: EP miss out on the chance to go top

EAST Preston Football Club missed out on taking over at the top of County League Division 2 on Tuesday when they went down 1-0 at home to Southwick.

Victory would have seen EP jump to the top but Wickers' 88th-minute winner took them to the summit instead.

East Preston paid for a lacklustre performance in front of goal to come away with nothing. A succession of chances went begging as balls flashed across the box on what seemed a regular basis during the second half.

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The first half was far from promising with both sides opting to attempt to send the first football into orbit and this tactic brought little reward, apart from when Wickers keeper Piers Walsh spilled a couple of crosses, but the finishing touch was missing for EP.

Southwick were also indebted to skipper Elliott Finney, who seemed to be in the right place at the right time on a consistent basis for the away side, as he made a well-timed challenge on Aaron Farrier after 33 minutes.

The second half saw the home side show a greater desire for the three points. Scott Banfield looked lively on the left wing but never really delivered a telling ball into the box. The best chance fell to Jerry Manning who had broken quickest from a Wickers corner but he tamely rolled his shot straight at Walsh.

Southwick's best attempt was a glancing header from Toby Feest from a corner but Farrier was there at the far post to head clear.

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And so it was, with just two minutes of normal time remaining, that a scuffed clearance by Dale Campbell fell to Dave McNeill, whose fierce drive was tipped onto the bar by Guy Souch, only for James Wotherspoon to react quickest to slot home. Shouts of offside from the home support fell on deaf ears and the points were heading eastwards.

EP boss Paul Curtis said: "It's a cruel game. We had loads of half-chances but failed to bag one. It's not the first time we've conceded a late goal this season and that's something we've got to work on. I'm very disappointed."

EAST PRESTON: Souch; Dixon, Stideford, Windsor, Blackwood; Campbell, Manning, Farrier, Banfield; Howard, Burgess. Subs: Lawson (Howard 61), McLeod, Steele, Beaney, Rahaman.

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