Horsham again beat EP in final

It was Hornets' last game at Queen Street, they lie two grades above EP, and it took them until the 109th minute to make sure they would go out on a winning note.

Is is the third time in the last six seasons of the competition that they have defeated EP in the final.

EP led 1-0, trailed 2-1 at half-time, and equalised with five minutes of normal time left. But Gary Charman's scuffed shot, which crept under outstanding EP keeper, Tom Rand, with 11 minutes of extra-time left, settled the outcome.

White said: "To come fourth in the County League, and to get to a cup final, with a small squad is a great season for us.

"Now we've just got to push on next season. With two or three new players, we could win the league next year."

On the match, White said: "We did really well. For periods, we were the better team and we hit the post twice at 1-0 up.

"We felt their equaliser might have been offside, but we then later got a fully-deserved equaliser of our own to force extra-time.

"When they made it 3-2, we'd just run out of steam. Tom Rand, in goal, was outstanding, and I'd have fancied our chances if it had gone to penalties."

Kevin Budge had fired EP into an 11th-minute lead from Phil Churchill's header across goal, before EP twice struck the woodwork through Tom Lawley and Churchill.

Horsham levelled on 27 minutes through former EP and Arundel striker, Lee Farrell.

They then went ahead three minutes before half-time. Rand saved Farrell's one-on-one shot, but Farrell cleverly squared the rebound for Lewis Taylor to tap home.

After Horsham bossed the opening 15 minutes of the second half, EP came back into the game. Eddie French brilliantly tackled Lawley when he appeared to be through on goal, before EP made it 2-2 on 85 minutes.

Budge's shot was saved but the rebound fell to James Rhodes, who netted his fifth goal of the season.

Rand then denied Taylor twice to force extra-time, when Charman netted the winner in the second period.

EAST PRESTON: Rand; Williams, Head, Virgo, Metcalf; Lawley, Carter, Keet, Rhodes; Budge, Churchill. Subs: Darwin (Churchill 60), Georgiou (Keet 75), Oatway (Budge 115), Biggs, Kason.