East Preston fight back to win at Chi

EP fell behind inside the opening minute but hit back to beat Chichester for the third time this season.

East Preston were slow to get started and Dan Watts gave the home side the lead, before Perry Northeast almost doubled their lead with a free kick.

EP were level on nine minutes when Fred Foreman fired home a free kick from the edge of the penalty area.

The visitors were forced into an early change when Craig Grantham went off with an ankle injury and was replaced by James Rhodes. The substitute made an immediate impact as he combined with Rob Boddy to set up Joe Shelley, who put EP ahead on 25 minutes.

Chichester then had an effort ruled out as East Preston took control as the game went on. They moved 3-1 ahead six minutes into the second when a powerful Rhodes shot was saved by Dan Roberts but, from the resulting corner, Dan Simmonds extended EP’s lead.

Niall O’Hagan, who had come on as a substitute only five minutes earlier, then got the fourth on 68 minutes after he had closed down keeper Roberts.

East Preston then had opportunities to extend their lead as Rhodes, O’Hagan and Shelley all went close.

EP gave a debut to Nick Fogden, who has signed on loan from Eastbourne Town.

East Preston manager Dominic Di Paola said: “After the first five minutes, we were pretty much in control – once we’d got the Christmas turkey out of our systems.

“We let in another poor goal but we played pretty well and it was a decent performance, considering we hadn’t played for a while.

“We lost Craig Grantham to injury early on but James Rhodes came on and changed the game. He gave us good quality and calmed everyone down.

“He played a part in our second goal and we then created loads of chances in the second half. They didn’t really create anything, apart from the couple of early chances.”

County League leaders Peacehaven remained three points clear at the top on New Year’s Day after their match at St Francis Rangers was postponed owing to a waterlogged pitch.

EP travel to Shoreham in the league on Saturday and then host division-lower Steyning Town in the second round of the Sussex Senior Cup on Tuesday. The game is now being played at The Lashmar as it has been postponed twice at Steyning’s Shooting Field ground.

EAST PRESTON: Ender; Duncan. Pullan, Franks, Hartley; Boddy, Clark, Shelley, Foreman; Grantham, Simmonds. Subs: Rhodes (Grantham 10), O’Hagan (Boddy 60), Fogden (Simmonds 75), Elliott.