Gaskin hits treble as EP thrash Wick

And so it proved as the hosts ran home comfortable 5-0 winners to extend their lead to 12 points at the top of the Division 2 table.

It did not take long for EP to take the lead as Joe Shelley cut out a Jack Stairs’ pass on the halfway line and he played Lewis Hamilton down the right to cross for top-scorer George Gaskin to slot home from just six yards.

The visitors came back into the game, though, and almost levelled the scores on 17 minutes but Scott Towers’ effort was adjudged to have been offside.

The home side’s second came after 23 minutes as a hopeful free kick from Niall O’Hagan was headed goalwards by Shelley. It should have been a simple claim for young Matt Neocleous in the Wick goal, but the ball hit the crossbar as he attempted to catch it and rebounded to the grateful Gaskin, who could not miss from inches.

The second half belonged to East Preston as Charlie Oatway continually caused problems for the Wick defence, although the frontman’s accuracy let him down on more than one occasion. It took EP until 10 minutes into the second half until they extended their lead as the ball dropped to skipper Shelley, who drilled home from 12 yards.

Further penetrating runs from Oatway failed to deliver a final touch from anyone, despite the ball flashing across Neocleous’ goal but no-one was on hand to apply the final touch, and even when Oatway opted to shoot himself, Neocleous was equal to it.

The inevitable fourth goal came on 74 minutes as Barney Boutwood shot from the corner of the box. His effort was going well wide but Gaskin was there to prod home from five yards and complete his fifth hat-trick of the campaign.

And, just three minutes later, Oatway finally found the target as he cut in from the left wing and tucked the ball into the far corner and completed the rout.

Jamie Ford almost netted a consolation for the visitors when he chipped Steve Phillips, only to see the ball come back off the bar.

EP boss Dominic Di Paola said: “I’m pleased with the win as that was a tough game for us, but it’s another step towards promotion.

“We’ve got a few tough games to come, though, so we can’t afford to sit back and relax.

“The team spirit is good and we’ve got ourselves into a good position, so we’ve just got to maintain that momentum.”

Wick manager Richard Towers said: “We had a few out tonight, especially at centre half missing Danny Jones and George Hotson.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game and tried to get in their faces but the early bookings meant we had to tread carefully.

“Having conceded early on, I thought we did create a few chances, but you can’t afford to give them time and space as they are a good side.”

East Preston are now 18 points clear of fourth-placed Storrington, while Wick remain eighth.