EP’s key man Shelley out for up to a month

EP boss Dominic Di Paola is looking forward to stringing a run of games together, after suffering their eighth postponement of the season on Tuesday, but admits Shelley will be a massive loss.

They take on Di Paola’s bogey side Pagham in County League Division 1 on Saturday, on the back of two postponements, as Tuesday night’s league match at Sidley and Saturday’s home fixture against Hailsham both fell foul of the weather.

But they will have to do so without Shelley and Matt Axell, who are both ruled out. Di Paola said: “Joe could be out for up to a month as he has an op for a broken nose . Knowing him, as soon as the doctor says it’s safe, he will play again.

“He’ll be a loss, massively so. When he doesn’t play, we are half the side. He’s a real athlete and like Vieira in his prime, the way he gets up and down the pitch.”

On Pagham, Di Paola said: “They are always there or thereabouts. I’ve never beaten them as a manager or a player and they are one side that can work us out, and I’m not quite sure why, I’d love to know.”

EP then host Rye United in the third round of the Sussex Senior Cup on Tuesday evening (7.30pm).