EP maintain their lead

This was one of the few games that survived the wet weather and resulted in another three points for the visitors, who won for the 15th time in 17 league matches.

EP took the lead on 11 minutes when Joe Shelley found himself with time and space on the left wing and he picked out Shaheen Sadough, who coolly took the ball around James Shaw to place into the empty net.

Lancers’ young winger Jared Rance embarked upon a mazy run in the 18th minute only to be denied by the legs of Joel Harding, and it was Shaw’s leg that denied Marc Pullan’s glancing header on 22 minutes.

EP doubled their lead in the 37th minute when Darren Boswell cut in from the left to unleash a shot from 35 yards that swerved wickedly and landed in Shaw’s bottom corner, although one could argue that the home keeper could have done better as he got a good hand to it.

The visitors began the second half strongly and increased their lead in the 52nd minute when Boswell’s corner was met by Charlie Farmer’s flick at the near post.

EP netted a fourth in the 61st minute as an offside-looking Boswell collected Shelley’s through ball and coolly slotted home his 15th goal of the season to effectively bag the points.

Sadough completed his afternoon’s work by walking the ball around Shaw, having been fed by Boswell’s inch perfect pass in the 72nd minute, only to immediately be substituted.

Credit goes to the hosts who kept their energy levels high and they were rewarded in the 87th minute when recent signing from Arundel, James Wotherspoon, volleyed home from close range after EP failed to clear a cross.

EP boss Dominic Di Paola said: “We were a bit rusty initially as we haven’t even trained for two weeks but played well after a while. Conceding at the end was a bit disappointing but I’m obviously pleased with the end result.

“We’ve got a lot of tough games coming up, so need to get some momentum going.”