EASTBOURNE BOROUGH FOOTBALL CLUB

Eastbourne Borough started well at promotion chasing Cambridge United with a Nathan Crabb 1/2 chance and a Ben Austin 30 yard effort just wide within the opening 5 minutes, but in truth the 1st 45 minutes was dominated by a 'United' side aiming to put pressure on the leaders Burton Albion and also keep ahead of the chasing pack. Andy Parkinson swung a dangerous delivery across the Boro box on the 1/4 hour but Daryl mcMahon really should have done more than shoot at Lee Hook from Parkinson's cut-back on 18. Lee was again in the right place at the right time for Danny Crow's effort 4 minutes later. 'The Sports' did their best to counter but Crow again maybe should have done better as a 2nd ball traveled across the Boro goal; no finish applied. Wayne Hatswell was finally booked for his 2nd cynical foul on Boro players who 'dared' to get round him and Matt Smart's resultant free-kick was saved well low by Danny Potter. The half closed with Marc pullan forced into a last ditch tackle and Jon Challinor flashing a header across Lee Hook but wide and again no final finish for the home side.
Boro had a far better 2nd 45; a 'Crabby' effort blocked and Allan Tait wide before the Boro No. 10 was bundled over by Hatswell on 57 minutes for a pen. Many in the 'away' terrace were awaiting the 2nd yellow and subsequent red as the home centre-back's chief contribution had been to foul Boro players heading goal ward, but the referee saw the penalty as punishment enough and Paul Armstrong scored to give the visitors the lead - against the balance of play, but a lead none-the-less.
5 minutes later the game changed beyond recognition. Danny Crow was stretcherd from the field with more concern offered by the Boro players than sections of his own support, Chris Holdroyd added along with Courtney Pitt. Within 2 minutes the home side were level when a corner from the right was headed home by Lee Phillips for 1-1.
5 minutes later and United had the lead. Matt Smart was shoved into Holdroyd from behind and with the Boro players expecting a free-kick the ref pointed to the spot for a penalty, smashed home by Holdroyd for 2-1.
Jay Lovett was introduced, and he would cause the home side problems as Boro recovered from the 5-10 minute spell and began causing Cambridge some problems. Austin's towering header was deflected for a corner but it was not to be and the home crowd left happy, finally.
It could have been so different had Mr. Coote sent Hatswell for an early bath. A goal up against 10 men would maybe have allowed the Boro to claim something from the game, but many felt the crowd influenced decisions, and the penalty award when viewed from the Boro terrace was bizarre. That said it was a decent 2nd half performance against a side chasing league the 'glory' and a result elsewhere (a late winner for Northwich over York) saw Boro safe in the BSP for another season - a glorious achievement for this club and a foundation on which to build.

Words - Lee Peskett