Eastbourne Borough returned to winning ways in the National League South with a hard earned 1-0 win at Weston-super-Mare.

Kai Innocent scored his first goal since his return to the club before some stern defending saw the Sports come away with all three points.

In a game made difficult with conditions at The Optima Stadium, the Sports played the last ten minutes with ten men after Camron Gbadebo saw red – but dug deep to hold on.

Adam Murray made one change to the starting line up from last weekend’s draw with Hornchurch, with Gbadebo coming in for his full league debut for the club. There was also a spot on the bench for Jack Clarke as he progresses in his recovery from injury.

Weston created the first real opportunity of the game just after ten minutes. Keiran Thomas had room to lift the ball in from the right, and it ran to Luke Coulson at the far post. His shot from the just inside the penalty box was turned away by Joe Wright diving to his right, before Samuel Pearson headed over after the loose ball was chipped into the area.

However, it was the Sports who broke the deadlock with 20 minutes on the clock. Borough broke forwards at pace and Michael Klass fired an inviting first-time cross in from the right and picked out the run of Kai Innocent, who got in front of his marker to nod the ball back across goal and into the bottom corner.

The Sports almost doubled their lead when Pierce Bird whipped in a free-kick from the right and Alife Pavey rose highest at the near post, but headed just over.

But the hosts looked to turn the screw to get back into the game, with Borough defending stoutly – including a great header from under his own bar from Dom Odusanya to turn Coulson’s cross away.

Coulson’s delivery from set-pieces was proving to be a threat, with Samuel Avery heading a corner over before the defender couldn’t connect with a ball in from close range.

Borough started the second half on the front foot, with Bird’s cross picking out George Alexander but he couldn’t get enough on his header to trouble Alex Harris.

Gbadebo then drove forward from the back before linking up well with Pavey and Klass, with the latter having a low shot go straight at the Weston goalkeeper.

However, as time wore on the hosts looked to up the pressure. Wright reacted well to save from Thomas’ low header as he met Coulson’s corner from the right, before Gbadebo did well to turn a free-kick away from danger.

Another Coulson delivery this time picked out the run of Raphael Araoye, but the defender could only head the ball narrowly over with fifteen minutes to go.

There was then a twist in the tale when Gbadebo was shown a second yellow card after a soft foul in midfield, and Borough were made to play the last ten minutes with ten men.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, the Sports continued to show discipline in defence – with Bird doing well to block Ollie Chamberlain’s strike inside the area.

Substitute Nick McCootie then fired just wide when under pressure as six added minutes were shown by the fourth official.

And in the fifth of those, Weston were gifted one last chance. Referee Darius Bradley deemed Wright to take too long with the ball in hands, and gave the hosts an indirect free-kick inside the Borough box.

Coulson teed up McCootie, but Borough’s defence charged down to block the effort – and celebrated as if they’d just scored themselves.

The referee eventually blew up after almost ten added minutes, and it was greeted with cheers from the brilliant away supporters as Borough secured a big three points.