EP through to Senior Cup semi-finals
By Mollie Bennett
EAST Preston Football Club progressed into the semi-finals of the Sussex Senior Cup last Wednesday after a extra-time win at Ryman League Division 1 South side Eastbourne Town.
EP startly slowly in the first half and failed to maintain possession of the ball as Eastbourne pressurised them with direct football.
The away side woke up in the second half but their rhythm was momentously paused when Niall O’Hagan gave away a foul on the edge of box, and Town’s John Lansdale fired home in the 50th minute.
EP levelled 10 minutes later when substitute Fred Foreman headed home Matt Axell’s corner.
East Preston then had some great chances to win the game, as Craig Grantham’s effort did not cross the line and Grantham then set Foreman free but he blasted wide.
EP had to defend solidly for the last five minutes as the Ryman League side piled on the pressure, but they held on to take the tie to extra-time.
The winning goal came from another Axell corner and Joe Shelley was East Preston’s hero as he rose highest to nod home the winner on 105 minutes.
East Preston manager Dominic Di Paola said: “I’m pleased with the win, the lads were brilliant, they are a good side but it shows what we are capable of. We were poor in the first half and they were direct, which didn’t suit us, but we had a talk at half-time and in the second half we were the better side.”
East Preston will face Brighton or Three Bridges in the last four and Di Paola said: “I don’t really mind who we get. We will put in a performance on the day and see what happens.”
EAST PRESTON: Rose; O’Hagan, Pullan, Clark, Axell; Shelley, Boddy, Charles, Rhodes; Hudson, Grantham. Subs: Foreman (Rhodes 50); Elliot (O’Hagan 55).