Eastbourne Borough Women booked their place in the Final of the Sussex FA Women’s Challenge Trophy after a battling performance away at Burgess Hill Town.

The Sports fell behind for the first time this season, but bounced back well – with Abbie Tucker scoring twice as Chris Day’s side ran out 5-2 winners.

It was the Hillians who drew first blood midway through the first half when Millie Morgan scored a well-worked solo goal.

It was the first time the Sports had found themselves behind this season, but they responded to draw level on the half hour mark. Izzy Payne did well out wide to get the cross in, and after it just evaded Becky Simmons the ball fell to Tucker at the far post who made no mistake.

And the Sports went in front just two minutes later with almost a carbon copy of their equaliser, with Payne once again the supplier with a fine cross which Tucker converted emphatically.

Borough would go into the break 3-1 to the good, with Simmons scoring directly from a corner from the left.

The Sports then wasted no time after the restart to add to their lead. Payne threaded the ball through to Tucker on the right, who this time was the provider as she fired a low ball across to Megan Griffiths who knocked it in.

Four shortly turned to five as the Sports continued to mount pressure. The Burgess Hill keeper failed to deal with a corner coming in and Nicole Baitup was quickest to react, and she bundled the ball in.

However, the hosts then grabbed a second goal moments later – with Morgan cutting in from the left-hand side and her strike from outside the area gave Sophia Moule no chance on its way into the top corner.

The Sports looked to regain their four-goal cushion, with Baitup forcing a good save from the goalkeeper, before Lola Dulake did well before picking out Payne who saw her first time effort come back off the post.

But overall it was enough as the Sports Women wrapped up a 5-2 win to reach their first Cup final of the season, where they will face Pagham.

That win follows the success of the Under 18 Girls, who also reached the Final of the Sussex FA Girls’ Challenge Cup following a big 10-1 win away at Newhaven in their semi-final.

A fantastic effort by the girls, who in their first season are sitting mid-table in the Junior Premier League – playing against the likes of Crystal Palace and Fulham.