Paine pleased as EP serve up perfect response

East Preston celebrate a goal earlier this season.

Josh Etherington, Tom Lyne and Jared Rance all struck as EP eased to a 3-0 Southern Combination League Division 1 victory at Ringmer.

Paine’s side went into the game on the back of a home defeat to Storrington but the EP boss felt Saturday’s win was an ideal response.

He said: “I was looking for a reaction from the team after last week’s disappointing result and we saw exactly that.

“A hard-working, professional performance, on a difficult pitch saw us get the three points, which is all that matters.

“We have now conceded one goal in the last five games, which shows how strong we are defensively.

“We now look forward to Selsey at home on Tuesday.”

Paine made two changes from the team that lost to Storrington last time out, with Jazz Gilbertson handed his first start of the season, in place of the injured Jacob Parazo and Rance started in place of Dan Huet up front.

EP goalkeeper Chris Cook was called into action early on, diving full stretch to tip over Tom Shelley’s free kick.

The travelling side started to grow into the contest and went close on 26 minutes. Rance sent Jack Barnes clear but he blazed an effort over the bar.

EP went ahead on the half-hour when Etherington was first to react following a parry from Ringmer goalkeeper Daniel Hutchins.

Etherington’s central defensive partner Lyne then added a second ten minutes after the interval.Rance clipped a lovely free kick into the area and Lyne was on hand to side-foot home.

It was one-way traffic for the remaining 40 minutes but EP did not extend their lead until a minute from the end.

Substitute Oliver Stevenson teed up Huet, who got clear down the right and unselfishly found Rance to slot home a third.

Despite the victory, EP remain fifth in the table but are just a point behind fourth-placed Steyning Town, who could only draw at Selsey, and also have three games in hand.

East Preston are back in action on Tuesday when they welcome Selsey to The Lashmar (3pm).

EAST PRESTON: Cook; Josh Parazo; Lyne, Etherington, J.Barnes; Hallett, Gilbertson; Bull, Franzen-Jones, Hunter.; Rance. Subs: Huet (Bull, 78), Stevenson (Franzen-Jones, 75), Hardman, Smith.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LittlehamptonGazette

3) Follow us on Twitter @LhamptonGazette

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Littlehampton Gazette - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.