Eastbourne Borough FC
Atkin (1, 31, 38)
Smith (65)

Booked:
Eastwood

Booked:

'Ashley who ?' joked one 'Sports' fan as he left The Kingfield. It was an obvious quip; the impact Ashley Barnes made on the side when he joined with Dan Smith is well known to regular fans of Boro - and to the defences whom he has terrorised over the past couple of months. However the point made was that this is no '1 man team'. Indeed Dan, still with Boro as his loan had not yet expired, contributed to this fabulous win; and of course Andy Atkin roared back to the starting XI with a 1st half hat-trick.

The start could barely have been more perfect for the side or Atkin himself; a corner from a Smith effort was delivered by Matt Crabb; Andy heading home at the near post for 1-0 in the opening minute. Woking were to be outplayed for most of the evening but they were not without chances as a left-wing free-kick was headed wide; unchallenged on 4 minutes. Smith fired high and handsome on 10 and 11 minutes; Wilfried Domoraud inches high from wide after 20. Just beyond the half-hour Boro doubled their lead with a carbon-copy corner; again Atkin towering over a static defence for 2-0. Andy rounded off his 3 goal haul with arguably the best; excellent play from Dan Brown and Matt Smart allowed Smith to deliver a fabulous ball into the box for Atkin who had escaped his marker to head back across the keeper for 3-0.

Both sides made half-time changes but Boro made the early running; Smith unlucky to see his run into the box foiled by some last ditch defending. The Plymouth loanee was to get his name on the score sheet however when he cashed in on some fine hold-up play by strike partner Nathan Crabb. Smith had work to do though before firing high across Simon Eastwood for 4-0. Woking tried to take advantage of Boro as the visitors relaxed; but Boro continued to play by far the better football. Tom Denton headed down and against the bar on 77 minutes but Lee Hook was never seriously troubled, Boro seeing out the match in a professional manner.

'The Sports' completely outplayed the hosts, a big non-league name with a full-time squad. At times the football was as good as that seen in the 4-2 home victory over Torquay. Atkin will grab headlines with a 3 goal haul but the side again showed a balance, purpose and drive that is often in evidence when they play at their best. The points keep ticking over, but as always, and probably the reason behind the rich run of form, the focus of the playing staff and management is only on the next game. Long may that continue if it produces performances such as this !

Words - Lee Peskett