Eastbourne Borough bowed out of the FA Trophy at the Third Round stage once again after falling to a narrow defeat at Boreham Wood.

Kwesi Appiah got the only goal of the game ten minutes from time to leave the Sports frustrated, having controlled the tie for large parts at Meadow Park.

But they couldn’t get that breakthrough – and fell to defeat against fellow National League South opposition.

Borough have never reached Round Four, and Adam Murray named a strong side in a bid to make history. Alex Finney came in for his first appearance after re-signing, with Camron Gbadebo named on the bench.

Storm Darragh made conditions far from ideal for both teams, and shooting into the stiff wind in the first half, it was the Sports who started the better.

Borough were moving the ball well and had the first sight of goal after seven minutes when Jayden Davis found the feet of Courtney Clarke, who turned away from his marker but saw his strike turned around the post by Nathan Ashmore.

The hosts then grew into the game, with Tyrone Marsh forcing Joe Wright into a smart save from a free-kick in a good position, but Borough continued to pose a threat themselves.

Davis fired over after good work from Michael Klass, before Klass’ fine through ball set Davis away down the right, but his low ball in looking for George Alexander was intercepted by Ashmore.

Clear cut chances were at a premium as conditions played their part – with Borough creating half chances with Klass and then Clarke having balls in just about dealt with by the home defence.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, the Sports started on the front foot as Klass intercepted a pass from Charlie O’Connell on the edge of the area but had his shot turned around the post by Ashmore, before Wright had to be alert at the other end to save from Dixon at the near post.

Alexander then gambled on a ball over the top which the home defence didn’t deal with, but had his effort on target parried over the bar by the Boreham Wood keeper, before Davis couldn’t quite pick out the far corner with an effort after cutting inside from the right.

Borough’s number 17 continued to cause the hosts problems, and was denied once again by Ashmore who made a superb save to turn his effort from 18 yards out behind for a corner.

However, it was the hosts who would break the deadlock on 80 minutes. Chris Bush whipped a ball in from the left hand side and it ran across to substitute Appiah, who pounced before firing into the bottom corner from inside the area.

The Sports threw everything forwards in a bid to get level, with Kai Innocent having a shot blocked before they almost grabbed a goal in spectacular style – but Dom Odusanya’s first time strike 30 yards out dipped just over.

A special mention to the travelling Borough support, who were once again magnificent throughout in testing conditions.

BWFC: Ashmore; Richardson, Agbontohoma, O’Connell, Bush; Mafuta; Marsh (Benton 67), Sagaf (Whelan 60), Ilesanmi (Abdulmalik 76); Ndlovu, Dixon (Appiah 67).

EBFC: Wright; Barry, Kensdale, Finney (Quick 46 (Diarra 89)); Clarke, Johnson (Ballard McBride 86), Odusanya, Innocent; Davis (Pavey 83), Klass (Sesay 88); Alexander.