Match Details : Blue Square Premier : 28/12/09

Luton Town found themselves in the Blue Square Premier this season following a huge points deduction for the 2008/2009 season. The club's form in the season would have se them mid-table but the clubs gradual drop through the divisions provided the followers of Eastbourne Borough with another opportunity to see their side face a 'big' name of the English game. It is only 15 years since the Haters lost to Chelsea in an FA Cup semi-final, Boro at the time (as Langney Sports) were still in the Sussex County League).

Unfortunately the Bank Holiday weekend traffic, combined with accidents on the M25 and M1, prevented many of the traveling fans from seeing the full 90 minutes, and they missed The Sports taking the lead. The Borough team got to the ground late , also due to the heavy traffic, but it did not seem to affect them as they took the lead in the sixth minute. Matt Crabb exchanged passes with Simon Johnson before firing a shot through the legs of Kevin Pilkington from just inside the area - 1-0 Boro. The lead lasted just three minutes though as Tom Craddock drove across the face of the goal and Matthew Barnes-Homer got the decisive touch for 1 all.

Craddock was the creator again in the 19th minute as Luton took the lead. His shot was saved by Danny Knowles but Kevin Gallen was on hand to tap home the rebound. Liam Enver-Marum had a great chance to equalise when he just failed to get a touch on Jamie Taylor's low cross at full stretch.

Luton made it 3-1 with a carbon copy of the second goal. This time Barnes-Homer's shot was saved by Knowles and Gallen once again took advantage to stab home the loose ball.

Borough dominated the second half, most of the struggling Sports fans now in situ, and Enver-Marum came close to pulling one back when he ran from deep inside his own half before curling a shot just over. Luton wrapped up the win in the 75th minute when Rossi Jarvis was allowed to turn on the edge of the area before firing a shot inside the far post.

The size of the scoreline possibly flattered the home side but Boro were not able to capitalise on possession in the 2nd half. Garry Wilson said after the game “We got off to a great start with a fantastic goal. That should have given us a platform to build on but we didn’t hold on to it for long enough. The difference between the two sides was the ability in the 18-yard box. Their movement was so quick to open up space and we were not switched on to it. We had most of the ball in the second half but they defended well. We had a couple of chances and if one had gone in it might have been different but this was always going to be a tough game for us.”

Words : Lee Peskett