FOOTBALL: Dodd fires EP into shock FA Cup win

EP now head to Combined Counties League Guildford City in the first qualifying round on September 12, when the winners will receive 3,000 prize money.

EP boss Trevor Waller was delighted with the win and said: "It was a great result but we played well and deserved to win.

"We're always reasonably confident heading into any game and we weren't going there just for a day out.

"We were going there for the win, although would have maybe taken a draw. We knew if we kept a clean sheet, we'd have it in us to get a goal and I couldn't fault anyone's performance.

"Everyone dug in and the defence were really solid. Adam Holman, Ian Saunders and Matt Windsor were all excellent and Maciek Kason made a couple of cracking saves."

EP got the only goal on 49 minutes when Kevin Budge broke down the left, passed to Terry Dodd, who turned inside the last defender and fired across Gosport keeper Nick Hutchings into the far corner.

Asa Nicholson almost doubled EP's lead seven minutes later but was denied by Hutchings.

Gosport pressed for an equaliser and launched several long balls into EP's penalty area. Holman cleared an Ashley Jarvis hooked shot off the line, then Kason gor finger tips to Ryan Hill's 25-yarder and turned it over the bar.

Dodd almost extended EP's lead but was denied by Hutchings before Kason saved from Gosport substitute Robert Tambling as EP held on.

In the first half, Kason made a stunning save from Hill's 25-yard free kick, and Gosport's Steve Gilbert also headed against the bar.

Gosport's Adam Puckett also fired wide, while EP went closest when Hutchings saved Chris Darwin's 25-yarder.

EP are in FA Vase action on Saturday when they host Combined Counties Premier League team Ash United. If that match is not a draw, EP will meet Shoreham in the 2008-09 Brighton Charity Cup final at Worthing FC on Tuesday.

Waller said: "We've got some big games coming up and we've got to go out and enjoy them.

"There's no pressure on us on Saturday. Ash are the equivalent of County League Division 1, so will be the favourites."

EAST PRESTON: Kason; N.Da Costa, Saunders, Holman, Windsor; Nicholson, Campbell, Riley, Darwin; Budge, Dodd. Subs: Meaney (Budge 80), Rowland, Williamson, L.Da Costa.

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