Eastbourne Borough FC secured a gritty 1-0 away victory over Welling United, with an early goal from Alexander proving decisive in a match filled with defensive heroics and sustained pressure from the home side. Despite numerous chances for both teams, Borough’s defensive resilience, particularly in the second half, ensured they left with all three points.
Borough took the lead in the 5th minute after Alexander was brought down in the box following a clever flick-on from Diarra. Alexander stepped up and confidently smashed the penalty down the middle, giving Borough the early advantage. Welling struggled to contain Borough’s long balls over the top, and Alexander and Bamba both had further chances to extend the lead, with Bamba’s effort saved in the 32nd minute.
Welling grew into the game in the second half and began to pin Borough back. Klass and Diarra both came close to doubling the lead, but it was the Borough defence, led by Diarra and Bird, that stood firm under waves of Welling pressure. In the 83rd minute, Welling almost equalised from a corner, but Alexander’s vital header cleared the ball off the line, and Wright made a crucial save just a minute later to deny Welling once again.
As the match entered stoppage time, Welling threw everything at Borough, even sending their goalkeeper forward for a corner in the dying moments. However, Borough held on to claim a hard-fought win, thanks to a disciplined defensive display.
A special mention goes to the traveling fans who cheered the team on throughout the 90 minutes, helping to secure this important victory on the road.