Alfie Pavey’s first half brace booked Eastbourne Borough’s spot in the semi-finals of the Sussex Transport Senior Cup.

The forward struck twice to give the Sports a comfortable lead over Bognor Regis Town, whilst Tommy-Lee Higgs’ stoppage time penalty being nothing more than a consolation as Borough won 2-1.

The Sports made nine changes to the eleven who started from Saturday, including a first start for Camron Gbadebo, who signed after recovering from the ACL injury suffered in December last year, with Charlie Gibson also starting in midfield.

It was Borough who had the first chance inside three minutes at a chilly ReachTV Stadium. Yahaya Bamba raced onto a ball through after Tyler Edmondson failed to clear, but one on one with Ryan Hall fired wide of the bottom corner.

The Rocks, bottom of the Isthmian Premier, posed a threat on the counter with Tommy-Lee Higgs having an effort deflected just wide of the near post after meeting a cross from the right, before Alfie Pavey had a header well held by Hall at the other end.

The Bognor keeper was then off his line well to deny Bamba as he looked to run onto Pavey’s ball forwards, before the pacey forward couldn’t get his shot away after a good challenge from Mason Vince inside the area.

Joe Wright – one of the only two survivors from Saturday’s starters – was then on his toes to save from Jasper Mather who broke through on goal, before he turned away Higgs’ shot on the turn from the edge of the area.

But as half-time approached, the Sports built up some steam. David Sesay had his effort on target headed wide by a defender after cutting in from the left, before the wing-back was shopped down by Vince inside the area, and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Pavey took on the responsibility and slammed his spot kick down the middle to give Borough the lead on 40 minutes.

And the club vice-captain doubled the Sports’ advantage just before the break. Sesay managed to drive down the left hand side and he lifted the ball in to an unmarked Pavey at the far post who nodded in from close range.

He then almost completed his hat-trick early in the second half, but Hall did well to turn his effort around the post from the edge of the area after some good build up play.

David Sesay then met Gibson’s corner from the right on the hour mark, but had his effort headed off the line before Bamba did well to win possession in the Bognor area but was denied by Hall.

The Sports looked comfortable, with Michael Klass firing just wide after being teed up by Bamba.

Under 18 talent Sam Sharma came on for just his second senior appearance, before Bognor pulled a goal back in the dying embers as Higgs fired home a penalty.

EBFC: Wright; Gbadebo (Innocent 61), Diarra, Quick; Johnson (Clarke 46); Sesay, Ballard McBride (Davis 67), Vukoje, Gibson; Bamba (Sharma 85), Pavey (Klass 67).

Bognor: Hall; Vince (Long 76), Jallow, Edmondson, Davies; Whyte, Tuck; Smith, Woolston, Mather; Higgs. Not Used: Horstead.