FOOTBALL: EP and Arundel cruise through in FA Cup

In the next round, worth 1,500 on August 30, EP will host Combined Counties League side, Erith & Belvedere, who thrashed Lancing 4-0 on Sunday, and Mullets will travel to fellow County League side, division-lower Mile Oak, who beat Combined Counties League side, Bookham, 3-0.

Following two successive defeats to start the season, EP manager Trevor Waller fielded a starting XI with a combined age of just 211 at Surrey-based Combined Counties League side, Westfield, on Saturday.

Skipper Seb Keet, at just 23, was their oldest player, and Waller said: "It was an excellent result, and it was probably one of the youngest sides EP have ever put out.

"We made some changes after our two defeats, some enforced, some not, and I was very pleased with the result.

"We'll all look forward to the next round, now. Erith are a bit like us, in that they have a lot of young players, but if we play well, we'll have a definite chance of going through."

EP won at Westfield with goals from Charlie Oatway junior (41mins), Adam Holman (49mins) and Liam Waller (82mins).

EAST PRESTON: Colbourne; Meeney, Beeney, Holman, Da Costa; Matthews, Keet, Campbell, Oatway, Swain; Gasson. Subs: Huet (Gasson 70), L.Waller (Meeney 75), Bowyer (Oatway 85).

Howard Neighbour's hat-trick for Arundel set up their tie at Division 2 promotion hopefuls Mile Oak, who now have former Wick striker Danny Curd, and ex-Whitehawk midfielder Graham Martin in their ranks.

Mullets assistant-manager Simon Butler said: "Playing a lower division side is always good, but it won't be easy because they have some good players. But hopefully we'll have some players back available for that game."

On Sunday, with the match being played at East Grinstead, Arundel took the lead against Lingfield after 28 minutes. Neighbour raced onto Jason Wimbleton's through ball before chipping home.

After Rob Grove had an effort brilliantly saved by Lingfield keeper Stacey Bowteel on 31 minutes, Neighbour drilled home the second from 22 yards a minute later.

Then, 12 minutes after half-time, Neighbour completed his treble from Josh Biggs' assist.

Lingfield twice hit the bar, through Craig Abbott and Sam McCarthy, as they tried to get back into the game.

ARUNDEL: Arnell; Duncan, L.Walker, Wimbleton, Hall; Axell, Grove, Mike Huckett, Hibberd; Biggs, Neighbour. Subs: S.Towers, D.Walker (Huckett, Neighbour 75), Hack, Matt Huckett, Kason.

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