The Beginning - East Preston vs. Hamble Club

Great to be back

After however many months, weeks and days it was great to be back groundhopping last weekend. Despite the lengthy break, I'm still a sucker for a printed programme so East Preston made it an easy choice for their game with Hamble Club of The Wessex League with the seaside also being a big draw. This would be my third visit to The Lashmar having previously visited for an FA Cup match with Ringmer almost a decade and then for another pre season friendly with AFC Portchester. I had always enjoyed my trips here. It's much less of a draw then bigger seaside places with it being just a village but there is still enough there to make it worthwhile. 

Start of the 2020-21 season!

The first half was pretty quiet with East Preston having the best chance when the forward poked wide at the back post. Hamble took the lead with a close range finish before two late goals saw East Preston claim the win. It takes just under two hours to travel from Victoria to Angmering with the ground a further ten minutes walk away. The walk takes you past the excellent S P Alehouse which has a broad selection of beers on keg and cask and was very friendly as well well as being set out for the new normal. A great return to football.

 

Pre Season Done Right At The Lasmar - East Preston vs. AFC Portchester

Summer skies in Sussex

This season's first trip to the seaside took me to Angmering for the pre season friendly between East Preston and AFC Portchester which was a clash between the Sussex and Wessex Leagues. This was a revisit as I had previously visited Lashmer Road for an FA Cup tie against Ringmer back when East Preston were in Division Two of the county league and the hosts lost 4-1 on that day. I saw Portchester at Winchester last season and they looked more than comfortable against the now Southern League side.

Players waiting to kick off

Portchester settle almost immediately and look very comfortable on the ball. East Preston almost gift Portchester the opening goal but the chance is put high and wide of the target. The come closer with a header following a teasing cross from deep. The visitors get in behind the East Preston defence but the defenders are able to regain their composure and clear the danger. Towards the end of the half East Preston have their first chance of the game when the forward has a shot which is blocked by the Portchester defender.

Portchester attack the flanks in the first half

Portchester score with the first attack of the second half. A corner finds its way to the back post and the ball is forced home from close range. They score again when a shot from distance takes a heavy deflection to leave the goalie flat footed as the ball goes over the line. The Portchester winger gets in behind the defence and again the East Preston defence is able to deal with the danger. A good Portchester passing move results in the ball being cut across the six yard line but the ball is blazed well over the bar. The final score was four nil and I don't know if I missed one when I went to the bar just before half time or when I left to catch my train.

The first Portchester goal of the second half

Angmering is served by trains from Victoria and the journey takes the best part of two hours. The ground is then a ten minute walk from the station. The beach is worth taking in and the chip shop in the village centre is pretty decent from memory. Also in the centre of the village is The Tudor Tavern which had a good selection of beers including Beachcomer which is perfect for a lunch time drink. The clubhouse at the ground is brilliant as it had Sky Sports as well as one ale from The Hammerpot Brewery. The reason why I was so impressed with pre season at East Preston was that entry was only three pounds which included a programme which was better then some clubs produce in the regular season. They have a another home friendly this Saturday against Alresford Town so if you want a great pre season experience I fully recommend attending.

The dugout side of the ground

Fish, Chips and FA Cup - East Preston vs. Ringmer

East Preston Sea Front

For the second FA Cup tie of the weekend, I headed south to East Preston for their FA Cup tie against fellow Sussex League side Ringmer. The away side were from the division above and so had the potential for a decent FA Cup tie. East Preston has the reputation for being the retirement capital of Sussex and on the way to the seafront that perception was confirmed! If you chose to go to East Preston I would defiantly recommend going to 'Different Kettle Of Fish' on 'The Parade' near the sea front for brilliant fish and chips. Then after you've eaten your meal on the beach there's even a cafe on the beach to get an ice cream!

Match action from 'Lashmer

There is a brilliant clubhouse at the ground. To take in everything East Preston as a whole has to offer you have to get there earlyish to appreciate everything. The clubhouse has Sky and if there's a big game you can catch that.

View towards the clubhouse and the changing rooms.

Unfortunately, the shock I was looking for never materialised. Ringmer were dominant from the off. The first goal was a soft one, the goal keeper letting in a weak shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner. The second goal was a flowing move that the 'EP' defence couldn't deal with.

Dugout side of the ground.

The only cover at the ground!

In the second half, Ringmer extended their lead when a free header in the box made it 3-0. East Preston then had a great chance to get back in the game, but they missed a penalty. Shortly afterwards, Ringmer made it 4-0 when the centre forward cut in and lashed in a forth. With almost the last kick of the game, East Preston got on the score sheet, when they scored their second penalty of the game.

East Preston make it 1-4.

As I said at the top of the post, it is defiantly worth getting to East Preston early to experience the fish and chips, the beach and the clubhouse. The ground is a 10 minute walk from Angmering Station. There are half hourly trains from London Victoria or East Croydon and they take 1 hour 30 minutes and 1 hour 15 minutes respectively. From what i saw, the pubs by the sea front are quite quiet and don't have TVs. If you fancy a drink before the game the clubhouse is more than adequate.

Storm clouds gather above The Lashmer ground