Late Huckett goal spares EP’s blushes

Midfielder Huckett nodded home an injury-time Adam Hunt corner when it looked like all three points were slipping away from the hosts.

EP boss Dominic Di Paola admitted he had pretty much given up hope of a winner despite dominating the game when substitute Fred Foreman hit the crossbar with the goal gaping five minutes beforehand.

Di Paola did, however, praise his side’s character for keep going in what he labelled an important victory.

He said: “We did not play at a good tempo, but did absolutely dominate the game. We must have had 20 shots and they had one in 90 minutes – Joel (Harding) made one save, he pretty much had nothing to do.

“We did show good character to win. It was literally with one minute to go, so to win that late on is nice.

“With all due respect to them if you are going to draw, you want to do it with a decent side and, not taking anything away from them, but they were poor. A win’s a win, though, and it’s another good one as all the big boys won on Saturday, so it’s important to have got through it.”

Numerous chances fell for Darren Boswell and Matt Axell, who on another day could have had four goals each to their names.

Liam Baitup had a couple of good chances as did Joe Shelley, but either good goalkeeping or wasteful finishing allowed Hailsham to keep them out.

The best chance of the match fell to Foreman with five minutes remaining, but the forward fired against the bar from an open-goal opportunity.

With the hosts piling men forward and with six attacking players on the pitch, the crucial winner came through substitute Huckett, who rose highest to head home from a set piece.