Easington maintained their winning streak of recent weeks with a gritty performance against Virginia Water. A wonder strike from Piers Walton and another set piece goal scored by Bradley Cox in the first half secured all three points.
This was a game of very few chances with both defences largely on top. Virginia Water had the first notable chance of the first half after Joe McBride beat the offside trap. However, Adam Rimmer was alert and he was able to race off his line and smothered a shot with his feet after McBride went to round the keeper.
Piers Walton eventually found a way past the very physical back line of Virginia Water around the half hour mark. The young striker picked the ball up down the left flank before driving across the box to eventually curl a shot into the top corner of the net from the edge of the box.
Both sides looked dangerous from set pieces but it was Sports who were to extend the lead from a corner just minutes later. Ryan Markham sent the corner into the box and Bradley Cox timed his leap superbly to power a header into the roof of the net under pressure.
2-0 at half time.
Virginia Water started the second half the better of the two sides and some early pressure lead to the visitors reducing the deficit. A half cleared ball into the box fell to the unmarked Louis Sanders and he managed to drag his shot across Rimmer into the bottom corner of the net as the Easington players rushed out to close him down.
Nick Thorne had the chance to put Sports out of sight mid-way through the second half. Unfortunately his superbly placed free kick beat the wall and the keeper and clipped the outside of the post, eventually going out for a goal kick.
Sports showed good game management to close out the match. Henry Rose came on to provide renewed energy up front whilst the defence and midfield worked hard to limit any dangerous balls into the box.
Easington continue to climb the table and will certainly be going into the game against Tuffley Rovers in confident mood this weekend.