EP started the match well with the first chance coming on 8 mins when good work by Steve Herbert on the left and from his ball inside to Conor Bull who put his shot just wide. Saltdean’s new signing Rob O’Toole got the only goal of the game when he somehow got a shot off at the far post when perhaps EP could have defended the Saltdean attack a little better.

Franzen-Jones had a shot on 11 mins which was saved by Banks in the Saltdean goal. EP’s best chance of the match came on 15 mins when great work from Tom Lyne bringing the ball out of defence fed Lukas Franzen-Jones whose pass found Huet six yards out with an open goal and he somehow put the ball over the bar. Lyne had another opportunity on 27 mins when once again he took the ball out of defence and his shot just went wide.
EP were unlucky to be behind at the break after a good solid first half.

Half-Time: 0-1

The first chance of the second half fell to Josh Etherington when from a corner his header was just wide. On 70 mins a good free kick from Jack Barnes was headed out to Lyne and his volley went over the bar.

EP were defending well against a strong wind but were finding it difficult to create any goal scoring opportunities. The second half did not see any clear-cut opportunities for either side and EP just could not find the goal which would have given them a deserved point.

Full Time: 0-1

Manager Bob Paine said ‘Disappointed to concede so early in the match particularly as it was a scrappy goal and perhaps we should have defended it better in the build up. Other than that, I thought we generally played well and were solid defensively. We had one glorious chance which we didn’t take and its fine margins at this level.
I thought on the balance of play we deserved at least a point but their new signing got them the three points which is good business I suppose!
We are doing OK and must stay positive as we knew this season would be a bit up and down as we adjust to life at this level'

Team: Chris Cook, Josh Parazo, Jacob Parazo, Ollie Stevenson, Tom Lyne, Josh Etherington, Conor Bull (Hunter 74 mins), Jack Barnes (Quirke 82 mins), Dan Huet (Brodie 69 mins), Lukas Franzen-Jones, Steve Herbert
Subs: Ben Purkis, Ryan Hallett, Hayden Hunter, Ryan Quirke, Luke Brodie