Report

East Preston picked up their Sussex County Division Two league trophy after a difficult day and a subdued performance in their last game of the season. With Charlie Oatway still unavailable, Alex Duncan still injured and Jordan Clark away, East Preston took the field with a few changes to the side again from the previous game away at Dorking. Seb Di Paola stepped into the defence with Chris Hibberd also returning and Lee Gibbs moved into the attack and Axell took Clarks place in midfield. Steyning were also playing their last game of the season and were, as has been the case over the last few weeks looking to be a team that takes the scalp of the champions.

East Preston started well and looked good in the opening stages as Lee Gibbs had a great chance to square down the left but his cross went behind for a goal kick. Minutes later the home side took the lead when Gibbs this time down the right sent the ball across the box and Gaskin was on hand to turn it home for a well worked goal. This looked like it could have been a routine day for the title winners but within two minutes Steyning were level as Matt Axell got caught in possession on the edge of his box and the Steyning striker was able to dispossess him and slot the ball past Bryant in goal. In what was a strange opening spell East Preston then went up the other end and took the lead again as Joe Shelley won the ball 20 yards out before bursting past the Steyning defence and side footing home for his side. Then true to the way the game was panning out Steyning then scored again as Gibbs and Shelley both jumped for a header and caused each other problems before a long ball forward was not dealt with by Jon Elliott allowing the pacy Steyning striker a clear route to goal and a well finished shot to give him his second of the game and kept the away sides tails up. Slightly against the run of play Steyning took the lead as Seb Di Paola gave the ball away cheaply down the right and from the resultant cross the tall Steyning centre forward slipped between O'Hagan and Hibberd to slot home. This goal finally seemed to switch the home side on and they went straight up the other end and George Gaskin shot was superbly cleared off the line by a returning defender. From that corner Gaskin whipped the ball in and Shelley powered home a great header to put the sides level and despite the home side beginning to finally control possession both sides went in at half time back on an even footing.

East Preston started the second half slightly better than the first and were beginning to get a foothold in the game when a succession of injuries turned the game into a farce. From a corner Shelley jumped but managed to turn his ankle and collapsed to the floor in a lot of pain. From the same corner O'Hagan took a hit to the head from a swinging arm and went down knocked out. With the two players receiving treatment it was clear that both would need to be replaced and Meehan and Corkill stepped onto the field with Seb Di Paola shifting to centre back and Meehan slotting in at right back and Corkill a straight swap for Shelley. Seconds later disaster struck again as a terrible challenge through the back of Corkill left the young midfielder screaming on the floor in pain and needing to be stretchered off to the waiting ambulance and the Steyning player sent off. With coach Jan Miller having to take the field and both Seb Di Paola and Chris Hibberd now also injured it was very much a case of damage limitation but to the home sides credit they had a good spell of possession despite the Steyning side putting everyone behind the team now they were numerically disadvantaged. With few chances created in the final 30 minutes the best came when a goalmouth scramble saw massive appeals from the champions that the ball had crossed the line but the linesman who should have had a good view signaled he didn't believe it had crossed and both sides were quite happy to see out the game with a point each.

Manager Dom Di Paola: "This was one of those games where we had our minds on what was going on after the game as opposed to fully focusing on the job in hand. The last two games we have seen a sloppy side come into our defending and in our general play but it is difficult to be too harsh when the boys have played 49 games this season and in only three I have had any reason to question their approach. However after the injuries which ended up as a concussion, ankle ligament damage, a broken leg, a pulled hamstring, a pulled calf and a pulled groin between the players the result was largely immaterial and the players health is far more important. Steyning were clearly seeing this as their cup final but the tackle on Sam was unacceptable at any level and I hate the way people tackle in such a cowardly way. I am all for aggression but it should be controlled and some of the tackles we face in this league are not acceptable and the lads summer is now ruined because of it. It has been an amazing season and one we will never forget. We have broken a number of records this season (most goals scored since 60's, Best ever goal difference, most points, first team in country to be promoted) and it's a testament to everyone at the club just how well we have done. We can all have a few weeks off now before coming back refreshed and ready for a new challenge in County 1".