FOOTBALL: Mitchell's treble sinks EP

The scoreline flattered the visitors, as EP more than played their part in an entertaining match, aided by some good refereeing from Neal Saxton, who allowed the game to flow.

Mitchell grabbed his first of the night and United's second goal on the hour mark. He beat the offside trap, raced on to a through ball from Wayne Joseph, and fired low across EP keeper Maciek Kason, into the far corner.

The goal put distance between the sides, although EP really should have been level just five minutes earlier when Phil Churchill's drilled shot sailed agonisingly wide following a Paul Curtis corner.

East Preston, who had been more than in the match up to this stage, rallied and gained a lifeline on 76 minutes. Josh Sutcliffe prodded home a loose ball after United keeper Ross Standen's punch from a corner failed to gain sufficient distance.

Any hope EP had of getting back on level terms was extinguished within seconds as sloppy marking allowed Mitchell time and space to fire high into the roof of the net from a tight angle to bag his second.

As the hosts pushed forward, Mitchell deservedly claimed his hat-trick two minutes from time. He broke free on the right, outpaced Kevin Clayton, and coolly shot home.

United had made the perfect start to the match and took the lead on just five minutes. Paul Elliott took advantage of a poor Curtis clearance to get into the box and fire a low shot under Kason.

From then on, it was EP who created the better opportunities. Clayton had two diving headers inside the opening 20 minutes just off target, following excellent crosses from Sutcliffe.

Churchill also went close before EP delivered the move of the match on the half-hour. Kevin Budge, Fay and Churchill played delicious one-touch football to open up the United backline, only for Budge to shoot tamely at Standen.

United's best opportunities of the opening period fell to the impressive Chris Hibberd. On 25 minutes, he somehow failed to force the ball home from two yards, with Kason making a desperate block after Darren Annis' deflected effort had ricocheted back off the bar. Hibberd again went close on 35 minutes, but Kason was equal to his volley from the edge of the area.

After Mitchell's second-half heroics, Budge had efforts blocked by either the impressive Julian Curnow or the body of Standen. It just was not Budge's or East Preston's night.

EAST PRESTON: Kason; Maymon, Curtis, Moss, Sutcliffe; Harrington, Clayton, Fay, Burgess; Budge, Churchill. Subs: Azimi (Burgess 61), Meeney (Maymon 70), Leach (Fay 78), James, Williamson.

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