Pagham deal EP's title hopes a blow

Goals from Howard Neighbour and Scott Murfin in the space of two second-half minutes saw the visitors hit back from Phil Turner’s goal which had given EP the lead a minute after the break.

An already injury-plagued East Preston squad was further dented as Jordan Clark and Turner both had to come off in the second half.

EP manager Dominic Di Paola again highlighted their lack of an out-and-out goalscorer as well as voicing his frustrations on goal-keeping errors.

He said: “The story of our season continued as we suffered two more injuries.

“Jordan Clark had to come off just after half-time and Pip Turner with 15 minutes to go with a hamstring injury. It’s not what we wanted, but what can you do?

“We had a chance to go 2-0 up when Josh Clack should have scored and they then went up the other end and Tom Boyle dropped one and they scored.

“It’s four or five goal-keeping errors in the last five games now between our keepers. That is why we lost the Sussex Senior Cup, dropped two points at Peacehaven, three against Dorking and another three last night.”

Ironically, with EP missing a prolific scorer, they were shown what one can do as Pagham’s Scott Murfin provided the spark and the winner for the visitors.

Di Paola added: “Scott Murfin was the difference. He’s a class player and if we had him we would be 25 points clear at the top of the table and that’s not an exaggeration, either.

“We have not got anyone that will always score goals apart from Joe Shelley. The guys are chipping in, but we have not got that 25-goal man and it’s costing us.

“It’s very disappointing as I thought we were excellent and then we threw it away.”

EP travel to Hassocks on Saturday with Craig Grantham serving the last game of his suspension.

EAST PRESTON: Boyle; Axell, Elliott, O’Hagan, Duncan; Shelley, Clarke, Boddy, Turner; Clack, Foreman. Subs: Atterwell (Clarke 55), O’Brien (Turner 75), Edwards (Boddy 80), Franks.