FOOTBALL: Late heartbreak for East Preston

EAST PRESTON suffered late heartbreak on Tuesday in their quest to avoid relegation after an Owen Callaghan 2-1 winner deep into stoppage time denied them a deserved point.

In the 93rd minute, Mussels pushed forward and Lee Denyer's powerful drive was well saved by EP keeper Alex Bryant, but Callaghan was on hand to tap home.

East Preston had started brightly and the lively Terry Dodd almost put them ahead in the fourth minute, but his one-on-one effort was saved by Steve Allfrey.

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Asa Nicholson then went close from a corner, although Mussels could have taken the lead when Dean Smith headed just wide from Callaghan's cross in the 10th minute.

Shoreham seemed to struggle with EP's pace and had Allfrey to thank five minutes later after he kept out Dodd's header from a Dale Campbell pass.

It was no surprise when EP went ahead in the 28th minute, with Dodd again at the heart of proceedings. Nathan DaCosta's ball forward picked out Dodd, who evaded Dan Jordan and after his initial shot was saved, he rounded Allfrey and slotted home from a tight angle.

It did not take long for Mussels to respond and they equalised only six minutes later. Neil Harris flicked on Jamie Groves' corner and Liam O'Brien headed home.

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In the second half, Shoreham's Marcus Strevens fired just wide, and Darren Annis was denied by a good save, before EP could have nicked it when Dan McLaughlin's header was tipped over.

Despite both teams' best efforts, the game looked to be drifting towards a draw until Callaghan's late intervention.

EP boss Trevor Waller said: "I'm very pleased with the performance. They're a physical side and we dealt with their threat well.

"I'm gutted that we lost because I thought we deserved a point and I couldn't have asked for any more. It's still in our hands and we've got enough to get out of trouble."

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