EP weather Newhaven storm to extend fine run

EAST Preston Football Club maintained their unbeaten league campaign with their 22nd win from 25 games on Tuesday evening as Newhaven were dispatched with little fuss.
East Prestons Oli Lockyer in action during his sides 2-0 win at home to Ringmer on SaturdayEast Prestons Oli Lockyer in action during his sides 2-0 win at home to Ringmer on Saturday
East Prestons Oli Lockyer in action during his sides 2-0 win at home to Ringmer on Saturday

The game began ominously for the hosts, though, as the visitors pressed on the usually-creative home midfield, which forced the hosts to revert to an unnatural long-ball game.

As early as the second minute, Newhaven threatened as Lee Robinson benefitted from a mix-up between Joe Shelley and Marc Pullan, but the shot was weak and straight at Joel Harding.

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EP began to get into their passing game and took the lead in the 24th minute when Adam Hunt’s free kick was nodded down by Shelley to Shaheen Sadough, whose header was well saved, only for Darren Boswell to slot home.

Sadough extended the lead in the 27th minute when he capitalised on an error by centre-half Ryan Knight, raced through and placed the ball past the Newhaven stopper.

The hosts continued to create chances, with Shelley wasting the best one as he headed an Oli Lockyer corner over from five yards.

If the first half was jam-packed with entertainment, the second was the polar opposite.

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EP had their two-goal cushion plus an eye on tonight’s home fixture against Pagham and Newhaven clearly felt that they had a better chance of reward from their own Thursday fixture.

The only beneficiaries were the Sussex FA as their coffers swelled with a smattering of bookings, although that count could have been higher had it not been for referee Jamie Collumbell’s leniency.

The only real chance of the half came with four minutes remaining as Robinson was afforded a free header on the edge of the six-yard box but he failed to test Harding.

EP boss Dominic Di Paola said: “We knew that they would come at us hard initially as most teams are doing that now, but as long as we weather the storm there’s a fair chance we’ll win which, to be fair, we did. At this stage of the season it’s all about results and that’s what we’ve got tonight.”

One sour note for EP was a nasty foot injury to Boswell from a tackle.

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