Men
National League South Tue 11 February Reach TV Stadium
Eastbourne Boro
  • Adigun (32', 47')
  • Anifowose (49')
3
Hampton & Richmond
  • Goal (8')
1
3-1

Eastbourne Borough bounced back to winning ways with a dominant display against Hampton & Richmond Borough.

The Sports had over 25 shots, with 13 on target over the course of the 90 minutes, but ultimately had to come from behind to preserve their unbeaten record at The ReachTV Stadium.

An own goal had put the visitors in front early on, before Jason Adigun’s strike found the top corner before half-time.

Adigun then added a second early in the second half, before Josh Anifowose fired home on his full debut to put the Sports in control.

With results elsewhere, Adam Murray’s side move up to third in the National League South standings.

The Borough boss made one change from the loss at Torquay United on the weekend, with Anifowose in for his first start for the club – Pierce Bird dropping out.

The hosts started on the front foot – but fell behind through Hampton’s first venture forwards. Archy Taylor broke down the right hand side but in attempting to block his low ball into the area, Ollie Kensdale instead diverted the ball into the far corner of his own net.

However, Borough looked for an instant response. Anifowose drove just wide after good work from Yahaya Bamba down the left, before the debutant had an effort deflected just over having been set up by George Alexander.

Max Merrick was then forced into his first save of the night when saving Adigun’s shot from the edge of the area, before the Hampton stopper turned away Alexander’s effort from inside the box.

Hampton’s goal was under siege, and the Sports went even closer midway through the first half. Adigun was given room on the edge of the area, but saw his strike cannon back off the bar.

Bamba then forced Merrick to turn the ball around the post after driving down the left, before the Sports finally got back on level terms just after the half hour mark.

After being teed up on the edge of the area, Adigun was given room to try his luck again – but this time left Merrick standing as he picked out the top corner for his first goal for the club.

Anifowose and then Alexander then both had shots wide of the mark as the Sports pressed to go in front before the break, but the teams went in level at half-time.

However, within two minutes of the restart the Sports got their second goal. Courtney Clarke drove down the right hand side before firing a low ball in and picking out the run of Adigun, who from close range applied the finishing touch at the far post.

Borough didn’t rest on their laurels, though, and extended their lead just moments later. Adigun this time turned provider to Anifowose, who shifted the ball onto his left foot and his low drive from just inside the area went beyond Merrick and into the far corner.

Despite the 3-1 lead, Borough continued to press forwards. Bamba broke clear down the left hand side and drove into the area, but had his low effort saved by the legs of Merrick before Kai Innocent’s cross found Alexander, who did well to beat his marker but was denied by the visiting keeper.

The chances kept coming. On the hour mark the Sports were denied by Merrick once again, making a fine save to deny Anifowose his second, before he turned away Clarke’s strike from 20 yards out.

Borough were dominant – although Hampton went close with a rare foray forwards but Taylor headed a cross over at the far post.

The Sports’ attacking threat then resumed, however, with Freddie Carter seeing a goalbound header blocked before Adigun and Alexander linked up well on the edge of the area, but Merrick was equal to the latter’s effort.

Overall, a dominant performance for the Sports, who bounced back from Saturday’s loss at Torquay to move up the National League South standings.