It was a result that lays down a marker to the other teams vying for promotion this season – and one that delighted EP boss Dominic Di Paola, who last week spoke of Hailsham’s fantastic form. EP started the brighter of the two sides, and nearly went in front after just six minutes as George Gaskin played in Charlie Oatway, but his attempted finish allowed former Lewes goalkeeper Russell Tanner to save with his legs. On 17 minutes, EP keeper Alex Bryant misjudged a cross, but Aaron Meehan was there to save the home goalkeeper’s blushes as he twice cleared off the line. It was a good run and shot from the edge of the area by Matt Axell that put the hosts a goal to the good on 27 minutes, with Tanner unable to save low to his left. EP doubled their lead 11 minutes later when Gaskin was given an eternity to pick out a pass to Oatway, who slid the ball under the advancing Tanner, leaving EP with a two-goal cushion to take into the break. The second half began as the first had ended with Tanner once again denying Oatway with his legs just two minutes in. There then came a frantic period of 10 minutes as Gaskin ghosted past his marker at the near post to head EP’s third on 52 minutes. Lee Gibbs, who up until that point had been faultless, then upended Ashley Jarvis in the box and the free scoring Dan Leach sent Bryant the wrong way from the spot just two minutes later. Gaskin restored East Preston’s three-goal advantage on 61 minutes when his right foot shot, from six yards, found the back of the net, and only a minute later the striker completed the perfect hat-trick as he was afforded enough room to chest down and slot home with his left foot from four yards and complete the home side’s rout. The scoreline could have been even more emphatic had referee Robert Myhill given a blatant penalty for handball with six minutes remaining and the home side’s finishing been more clinical, but it was a good job well done for Di Paola’s men. He said: “We didn’t play brilliantly in the first half, but second half we totally dominated, and to be honest 5-1 flattered them. “We have to use the momentum from today to kick on and win this division. We can’t think that by beating second place so well that the job’s been done.” EAST PRESTON: Bryant; Meehan, O’Hagan, Elliot, Gibbs; Shelley, Edwards, Barnard, Axell; Gaskin, Oatway. Subs: Clark (Barnard 62), Hibberd (Gibbs 72), Hamilton (Axell 88), S.Di Paola.
