A fantastic all-round team performance saw East Preston beat highly fancied Three Bridges 2-1 at the Lashmar. Manager Bob Paine made three changes due to illness to the side beaten by Haywards Heath. Jacob Parazo coming in for Dave Beaney, Michael Waller making his full debut after signing from Horsham in place of Hayden Hunter and Lukas Franzen-Jones starting for the first time for four matches for Ryan Quirke.

Against a very experienced Three Bridges team the young home side settled into the game, but it was Ben Purkis (pictured) in the EP goal that had to make the first save of the game when he saved well from a first time volley from Three Bridges winger Nathan Crabb.

EP’s first goal came on 8 mins when Jack Barnes put in a great cross from a free kick and Tom Lyne finished well with his right foot from 8 yards out. Purkis made another great save on 19 mins when a cross into the box was flicked goal ward and the home goalkeeper reacted fantastically well to save.

The best goal of the match came on 27 mins when Luke Brodie broke on the right and crossed to Lukas Franzen-Jones who hit a fantastic left foot shot from just outside the box which gave Kieron Thorp no chance as the ball flew into the bottom corner of the net.
Three Bridges pulled a goal back on 30 mins when they scored from a direct free kick. The away side were awarded a free kick after a foul on Darryl Siaw just outside the box and John Lansdale hit a fine shot giving Purkis no chance. Brodie then had a great shot that hit a Three Bridges defender on the line and was cleared to safety.

Half Time: 2-1

Barnes had a shot early in the second half which just went wide and Purkis made another great save from a close-range effort in the six-yard box. Three Bridges were putting the home side under a lot of pressure as they looked for an equaliser although EP looked dangerous on the break with substitute Jake Heryet having an effort saved by Thorp in the dying minutes. A first-class excellent defensive display particularly from the numerous long balls into the box saw East Preston to the final whistle and secure a very welcome three points.

Full Time: 2-1

Manager Bob Paine said ‘Every one of my young team were excellent today against another experienced team who are looking for promotion. We had to defend for long periods particularly in the second half, but we dealt very well with the numerous long balls into our box. Our pace going forward gave them some problems and going 2-0 up after 27 mins gave us something to defend which we did very well. A massive three points for us as we look to consolidate our league position.’

Team: Ben Purkis, Josh Parazo, Jacob Parazo, Ollie Stevenson, Tom Lyne, Josh Etherington, Luke Brodie (Bull 74 mins), Jack Barnes, Dan Huet, Lukas Franzen-Jones (Searle 87 mins), Michael Waller (Heryet 71 mins)
Subs: Ryan Hallett, Matt Searle, George Laughlin, Conor Bull, Jake Heryet