John Shamalo marked his first start for Eastbourne Borough with a goal as the Sports eased to a 2-0 win at Tonbridge Angels.

Kai Innocent had opened the scoring in the first half at Longmead Stadium, with the hosts ending the match with nine men following an early red card for Garrett Kelly.

Gianluca Botti was also shown red in the second half, but by that point the game was already won as the Sports sealed a big three points in the National League South.

Adam Murray made two changes to the side which drew with Truro City on Saturday – both in attack as George Alexander and debutant Shamalo were given starts, with Alfie Pavey and Yahaya Bamba dropped to the bench.

There was drama from the off, as Tonbridge were reduced to ten men after just three minutes. In the build-up to the first corner of the game, Kelly was judged to have grabbed Brayden Johnson around his neck, and referee Emily Heaslip sent him off.

As a result, the Sports went on to dominate possession as they searched for the opening goal.

However, the hosts sat deep and restricted the Sports to efforts from range – with Pierce Bird seeing his 25-yard effort turned away by Matt Rowley.

Bird swung in the resulting corner and Shamalo beat Rowley to the ball, but his header was hooked clear off the line.

Michael Klass then fired over the bar midway through the first period – with Gianluca Botti flashing an effort wide of the near post as Angels looked to pose a threat on the counter.

Dom Odusanya had an effort deflected into the arms of the Tonbridge keeper, before the Sports made their pressure tell on 37 minutes.

Ollie Kensdale drove forwards and linked up well with Klass on the right, before he fired a low ball across the six-yard box into the path of Innocent, who fired home first-time.

With a one-man advantage, the Sports enjoyed majority of the ball after the break but without really testing Rowley in the Tonbridge goal.

Alexander flashed a ball across goal which Shamalo couldn’t get on the end of, with Camron Gbadebo having an effort deflected wide.

And it was from the resulting corner that the Sports doubled their advantage midway through the second half. Borough worked the set-piece short before the ball came in and Shamalo guided his effort into the bottom corner from six yards out.

The hosts were then reduced to nine men shortly after – Botti shown a second yellow card following a needless challenge on keeper Joe Wright as he went to clear a long ball.

Borough were content in seeing the game out rather than press forwards, although they did go close to adding a third when Alexander clipped the top of the bar with a cross- come-shot before Johnsson saw his shot go too high.

A return to winning ways for the Sports – who have now gone 645 minutes without conceding – to move up to third in the National League South standings.