FOOTBALL: East Preston lift the Charity Cup

EP put their 2007-08 Charity Cup final disappointment behind them as Terry Dodd's first-half strike was enough to see off 10-man Shoreham at Worthing's A2B Stadium.

The only goal of the game came on the half-hour mark when Chris Darwin drove into the left-hand side of the box, and cut the ball back across goal for Dodd to tap into an empty net from six yards.

EP manager Trevor Waller was delighted and agreed his side were the underdogs heading into the match. He said: "I thought we thoroughly deserved it, we were the better team throughout and played some decent football.

"For the first 10 minutes, both sides were a bit nervous but after that we began to create, and it was a great move for our goal.

"We should have put it to bed earlier, but I can't really remember our keeper having to make a save throughout the game.

"It has been a great performance against a top side in Division 1, and a performance we can take into our FA Cup match against Guildford City on Saturday, which we're all looking forward to."

Shoreham's Ryan Bradley had the ball in the net after just four minutes but it was ruled out for offside. Mussels' Liam O'Brien then had an effort saved while, at the other end, Kevin Budge had an effort blocked before Dodd struck.

Shoreham's O'Brien then headed an equalising chance just wide on 43 minutes.

A good passing move between Adam Holman and Nathan DaCosta found Dodd who curled wide on 54 minutes, before Shoreham were reduced to 10 men on 64 minutes after Bradley was dismissed for foul and abusive language.

Shoreham's Lee Deyner and substitute Rob Boddy had a couple of half-chances, before EP's Gavin Hammond went off with a dislocated shoulder.

Dodd had three glorious chances to seal EP's win in the last six minutes but they held on to lift the cup.

EP exited the FA Vase at the first-qualifying round stage on Saturday with a 3-1 defeat to Combined Counties side Ash United.

Gavin Evans put Ash ahead on the half hour, but EP responded when Dodd fired home a 25 yard free kick.

Dodd had an effort saved and another shot cleared off the line, Asa Nicholson struck the post and Huet was denied by a good save, before strikes from Shaun Lydon and James Blason saw Ash progress.

EP v Shoreham: Kason; N.DaCosta, Hammond, Holman, Saunders, Nicholson; Payne, Campbell, Darwin; Dodd, Budge. Subs: Huet (Budge 74), L.DaCosta (Hammond 79), Meeney (Payne 89), Ferrier, Barnard.

v Ash: Kason; N.Da Costa, Windsor, Barnard, Saunders; Nicholson, Huet, Campbell, Riley; Dodd, Budge. Subs: Ferrier (Budge 60), Meaney (Huet 70), L.Da Costa (Riley 80), Clayton.

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