Price strikes late to deny EP victory

Mark Burgess netted his first goal since returning to EP on Saturday

It was the second successive game that EP have been denied victory by a late strike, after Mark Cave netted two minutes into injury-time to snatch a 2-2 draw for Loxwood last week.

EP boss Sammy Donnelly feels that conceding so late in the last two matches has made the draws a little harder to take.

He said: “We seem to be getting into good positions in matches and then just not hanging on.

“I’m not sure if it’s a lack of concentration or whether we are going in search of that killer goal that is costing us.

“All of the players came off the field feeling a little down once again and conceding late goals are never nice.

“I felt we were just not good enough in the first half and I hold my hands up and take responsibility for that because the formation just did not work.

“But we were really good in the second half and created numerous chances.

“All in all, I felt that Hassocks edged the first half and we were better in the second, so a draw was probably fair.”

Hassocks took the lead after just two minutes when Price headed home a Phil Johnson cross.

The Robins should have doubled their lead in a dominant first 20 minutes but they missed a whole host of chances.

EP made Hassocks pay for their earlier misses as they got themselves level on the half-hour.

Mark Burgess, who has returned for a second stint at the club, found the net and bagged his first goal since re-joining EP.

Bradley Curtis then netted on 59 minutes to put EP into the lead.

The home side then had a number of chances to put the game beyond the visitors but failed to take them.

East Preston then conceded in the final ten minutes for the second time in as many matches. Price found himself in the right place at the right time to net a late leveller.

East Preston will be looking for a first victory in five County League Division 1 matches when they travel to Broadbridge Heath on Saturday.

EAST PRESTON: Allfrey; Johnston, Hand, Franks, Mannings; Greenfield, O’Callaghan, Curtis, Charles; Gray, Burgess.

n East Preston are setting up an under-18 side for next season.

Anyone interested in joining the team or for more information, can call 01903 776026.