EP exit John O’Hara Cup to Mile Oak

He said: “It was disappointing, and we expect more with the squad and the resources that we have.

“We did okay, but we’ve had some excellent results against the likes of Uckfield and Lingfield, which we need to repeat more often.

“We’re under-achieving and me and Paul (Curtis) are baffled as to why.

“Mile Oak are a decent, hard-working team, but we had enough to beat them, and even though we didn’t play badly, result-wise it was disappointing.”

Danny Hand put EP in front from the penalty spot after Mark Burgess was fouled in the fourth minute, but Oak responded and after Chris Paine’s deflected free-kick made it 1-1, Aaron Ransom’s one-on-one finish ensured Oak went in at half-time 2-1 up.

Nick Kerly made it 3-1 to increase the advantage, but EP rallied and Burgess’ header saw them pull a goal back on 72 minutes.

Despite late pressure, which saw Scott Banfield fire a late chance wide, Oak held on.

EP host local rivals Rustington on Saturday.

EAST PRESTON: Souch; Steele, Sutcliffe, Curtis, Stideford, Bainbridge; Hand, McLeod, Manning; Burgess, Lawson. Subs: Wilds (Manning 60), Charman, Banfield (Curtis, Lawson 78), Lewis, Howard.