FOOTBALL: Clayton's stunner gives EP victory

The game can only really be described as a scrappy affair, with passes going awry on a regular basis, and goalkeepers no doubt wishing that they had put their thermals on.

In fact, Lancing should have had this game sewn up by half-time but woeful finishing, combined with a couple of good saves, meant that EP were still somehow on level terms at the halfway point.

Lancers never came out of the changing room in the second half and were duly punished with a wonder strike by Kevin Clayton, who left Steve Allfrey in the Lancing goal with absolutely no chance whatsoever. It was EP's third and final proper shot of the game, and proved to be a decisive one.

It could have been so different, though. Lancing were all over EP in the first half, with EP devoid of any meaningful reply. Lancers' right midfielder Darren Boswell tormented the hapless Mark Burgess at left-back with continual runs down the wing, only to see potential chances roll tamely into keeper Maciek Kason's arms or wide of the mark.

The best chance did not come from Boswell's boot, however, as right-back Brian O'Toole sent in a wicked cross, which found top scorer Dan Griffin's head from just six yards, but Kason's strong left arm kept the scoresheet blank.

The second half saw East Preston come out the stronger but as Lancing had found in the first half, the final ball was lacking in quality and it took a "once in a season" moment to break the deadlock as Clayton's right-footed strike found itself in the top left-hand corner of the net.

Lancing's main threat of getting Boswell in down the right hand side dried up, as they opted to try to find his feet rather than give him something to run onto. With this, Lancing's hopes of finding an equaliser disappeared, especially when Griffin was substituted on 70 minutes, much to the striker's surprise.

The result was a little harsh on Lancing as a draw would probably have been a fair result on the freezing surface, but EP manager Paul Curtis was pleased with the overall result: "We rode our luck, especially first half, although we probably edged it in the second half. The goal came from nothing and we're obviously happy with the win and the three points."

Lancers boss Martin Gander said: "We deserved what we got. We didn't take our chances in the first half and didn't have a shot in the second. That's football, I suppose, but it was a disappointing result for us."

EAST PRESTON: Kason; Beaney, Curtis, Moss, Burgess, Maymon, Fay, Clayton, Churchill; Budge, Azimi; Subs: Harrington (Azimi 61), Leach (Fay 64), Meeney (Burgess 86), Saunders, Williamson.

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