SLIDESHOW: Reigning champions East Preston too good for Hassocks

The 4-0 scoreline was a repeat of the corresponding fixture last December when the sides met as the top two in Division One and while EP went onto lift the title come the end of the campaign, for the Robins those heady days must seem like a lifetime ago as this latest defeat made it just one win in 10 ten games this season.

t’s been well documented that Dave John’s charges are struggling after a raft of departures from the Beacon has left them fielding a number of teenagers and that lack of experience came to the fore again.

But despite the scoreline they never gave up and the feeling remains that at some point the injuries and availability that have blighted this campaign so far will clear up and they can pull away from danger at the bottom of the table.

This encounter was all over by half time as EP raced into a 3-0 lead inside 39 minutes despite seeing the talented Ryan McBride dismissed for a kick on Alex Gathern.

Joe Shelley opened the scoring within five minutes of the start when he beat Phil Wickwar to a cross to head past the veteran goalkeeper.

David Herbert added the second 20 minutes later when he raced away from Nick Pitcher at left back and cut inside to beat Wickwar from the angle and the third came from Bradley Lewis who hit a 25 yard rocket into the top corner after the home side had squandered possession.

Darren Boswell rounded off the goals in the 77th minute when Hassocks were again caught on the ball and he rounded Wickwar to net.

While it may sound like one way traffic, the Robins had several good chances to get something on the scoreboard with Nathan Miles forcing two good saves from Nick Cowlick and George Brown and Jamie Hillwood also went close.

Another positive was the return to action of right back Rob South who made his first appearance from the substitutes bench and was promptly booked after his first touch of the season.

The Robins now have a ten day break from action following the postponement of Tuesday nights scheduled game at Hailsham Town owing to maintenance work on the Beaconsfield floodlights.

That has come at the perfect time for John to try and get some of his walking wounded patched up although he has now lost Dan Stokes to university and there are further concerns over the fitness of Pitcher, Miles and Brown.

Hassocks: P Wickwar; Common, Marsh, Gathern, Pitcher; Stokes, G Brown, Jacques, Pearce; Miles, Hillwood.

Subs: South, John, I Simpson (used), Price (unused).