EP hit seven to extend their lead at the top

It took just 10 minutes for the home side to open the scoring in this action-packed encounter and it came from the boot of Matt Axell, whose deflected shot looped over Oak keeper Aaron Stenning.

Just four minutes later, EP doubled their lead when Charlie Oatway was afforded far too much time and space on the edge of the Oak area and slotted his shot in to the bottom corner.

EP’s third came from an Axell corner as skipper Joe Shelley rose highest at the near post to head home.

Oak were given a chance to get back in the game when Alex Bryant fouled Kieran Howard on the edge of the area and Chris Paine curled home the resultant free kick.

The home side should have increased their lead through Lee Garnham and George Gaskin, but both were guilty of putting the ball wide when well placed.

EP finally extended their lead 10 minutes into the second half. Lee Barnard cut the ball back to Gaskin and his cross saw Garnham net.

A moment of madness from Oatway on 65 minutes reduced the home side to 10 men as he took umbrage at a Chris Pulling tackle and appeared to headbutt his opponent, but the man advantage lasted only four minutes as Oak substitute Tony Burnett was adjudged to have stamped on Alex Duncan and got second use of the showers.

With eight minutes left, Niall O’Hagan headed home a corner to make it 5-1, and with just two minutes remaining Oak’s Matt Stephens used his hand to clear a deflected Gaskin shot off the line, as far as the assistant referee was concerned, and he became the third player to use the facilities early. Duncan smashed home the spot kick.

Gaskin completed the scoring in the final minute as he picked up a pass from Chris Hibberd, cut inside and found the top right-hand corner.

EP manager Dominic Di Paola said: “It was a great result, obviously, but our finishing wasn’t as clinical as it should have been, and one of these days it will cost us.”

EAST PRESTON: Bryant; Duncan, S.Di Paola, Clark, Hibberd; Shelley, Oatway, Barnard, Axell; Garnham, Gaskin. Subs: Keet (Axell 61), Boutwood (Garnham 67), O’Hagan (Di Paola 73), Gibbs, Brown.