EP continue perfect start in the league

EAST Preston Football Club continued their 100 per cent start to life in County League Division 1 on Monday with victory over Chichester.

The opening exchanges were evenly contested but EP went ahead on 10 minutes. Chichester keeper Matt Evans gifted the ball to Lee Barnard and he picked out Craig Grantham, who neatly finished to give his side the lead.

East Preston continued to pressurise the Chichester defence and maintained possession of the ball effectively. The home side did, however, have a lucky escape when Niall O’Hagan misjudged a header, which allowed Chi captain Perry Northeast a clear sight at goal. But EP’s new signing, keeper Tony Ender, was up to the challenge and easily saved Northeast’s weak shot.

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EP continued to press and captain Joe Shelley put a dangerous ball across Chichester’s box but no one was able to take advantage and the chance went. EP did double their lead on 33 minutes when Dan Simmonds continued his fine form in front of goal and added another to his tally, direct from a corner.

The second half was slow to get going, although Ender made a quality save to deny Connor Cody.

The result was put beyond any doubt when Simmonds netted again after a fine solo run and a neat finish from just outside the box in the 85th minute.

East Preston manager Dominic Di Paola said: “I felt that in the first half we coasted a lot but we were still pretty good and in the second half we were a little bit laid back. Our performance wasn’t too bad, although we didn’t really get out of first gear.

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“I can’t complain with our start, it’s going pretty well but we’ve got a lot of the better sides still to play in the next month, like Pagham, Lancing and Peacehaven, so they will be more of a test.”

EP are at Lancing on Saturday.

EAST PRESTON: Ender; Duncan, Pullan, O’Hagan, Hartley; Boddy, Shelley, Barnard, Axell; Grantham, Simmonds. Subs: Charles (Grantham 54), Elliott (Duncan 75), Edwards (Boddy 80), Kakolyris, Zydonik.

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