Three goals within five second half minutes saw Eastbourne Borough beaten at Boreham Wood in the National League South.

George Alexander had a penalty saved in the first period, and the Sports were made to rue that miss with what unfolded early in the second half.

Adam Murray made one change from the midweek win over Hampton, with David Sesay replacing Jack Clarke in the starting eleven.

And Sesay created the first opportunity for the Sports after just four minutes. The wing back whipped the ball in from the left and picked out George Alexander in the middle, but his looping header went just over.

Chances weren’t too frequent in a tight first half, with Mo Sagaf firing high and wide for the hosts before Yahaya Bamba skewed off target at the other end.

Courtney Clarke then had a shot deflected wide as Borough’s corner count mounted, but it was Boreham Wood who had the first shot on target on the half hour mark – Joe Wright making a comfortable save from Femi Ilesanmi’s long range effort.

However, the Sports were given the chance to go in front shortly afterwards when Bamba’s ball in from the right hit the arm of Kwesi Appiah, and referee Lewis Sandoe pointed to the spot.

Alexander stepped up, but his strike to Nathan Ashmore’s right was turned away by the diving home keeper.

Jayden Richardson and Jon Benton then linked up well just before the break for the hosts, and the latter had a low effort turned away by the legs of Wright from ten yards out.

The first goal was always going to be important – and the hosts broke the deadlock within eight minutes of the restart. Matt Rush was given room to drive down the right and he pulled the ball across to Appiah who from six yards out found the far corner.

Things then got from bad to worse for the Sports just four minutes later. Ollie Kensdale looked to have fouled as he went to head a long ball clear, but instead the ball ran to Matt Rush – and with Wright off his line he lifted the ball over the keeper from 30 yards out.

But it didn’t end there. Borough lost possession from the restart and Appiah was played through to make it 3-0 on 58 minutes.

Murray made a triple substitution to look to get back into the game, but it was the hosts who almost added a fourth with thirteen minutes to go when Appiah pounced to go through on goal but Wright made himself big to save well.

As time wore on, the Sports had chances to at least pull one back. Moussa Diarra headed just off target after being teed up by Alfie Pavey, before Michael Klass hit the post from just inside the area.

Then in stoppage time, Courtney Clarke had room 25 yards out but his strike bound for the top corner was tipped onto the woodwork by Ashmore.

With games coming thick and fast, the Sports will be looking to bounce back quickly away at Enfield on Tuesday night.