Eastbourne Borough fell at the final hurdle after Littlehampton Town denied them a place in the Sussex Transport Senior Cup Final and an appearance at The AMEX Stadium.

After a goalless first half, George Gaskin put Littlehampton in front in the Semi-Final tie – before Pierce Bird was sent off with 49 minutes gone.

Matt Green came off the bench and struck an equaliser with eleven minutes to go, but Scott Faber headed home late on to condemn the Sports to a disappointing loss.

Adam Murray rang the changes from Saturday’s draw at Bath – with only Courtney Clarke and Bird retaining their places in the starting line-up. That included starts for Fin Holter in goal, Charlie Gibson and Jayden Davis.

The Sports had the first shot on target when Josh Anifowose had an effort on goal that was deflected goalwards by Gibson, but Mac Chisholm gathered at the second attempt.

Davis then broke down the left hand side and pulled the ball across to Anifowose, but he couldn’t get his shot on target.

Borough then went even closer on 11 minutes. Michael Klass’ corner was flicked on by Bird at the near post, but Kyle O’Brien was on the line at the far post to head away. The Sports kept the ball alive, but Moussa Diarra couldn’t quite direct John Shamalo’s glancing header on target.

As the half wore on the tie became scrappy, with Littlehampton’s physicality disrupting the way the Sports wanted to go about things. Davis drove forwards from the right hand side and found Gibson in space, but he had his drive deflected and headed away.

Klass’ inswinging corner then led to an almighty scramble in the Littlehampton area, with several shots blocked including from David Sesay, but the Isthmian South-East side survived.

However, having not had a shot in the first half, it was Littlehampton who went in front within the first minute of the second period. Gaskin closed down Holter and the goalkeeper’s clearance ricocheted off the forward and into the net.

Things then went from bad to worse – with Bird seeing red for violent conduct after an altercation with Marshall Ball on 49 minutes.

Despite going down to ten men, Borough continued to have the majority share of possession but as Littlehampton sat back, they found opportunities limited.

Klass had a dipping and swerving free-kick go just over the bar, before Littlehampton almost doubled their lead. Ryan Yoro-Thomas kept the ball alive on the right hand side and he teed up substitute Evan Hoarty, but he fired just over.

Green came on as the fifth and final substitute for the Sports on 77 minutes, and within two minutes he drew the Sports level. Fellow sub Yahaya Bamba broke down the right hand side and he fired the ball across goal to Green, who from six yards made no mistake.

Bamba himself then went close to putting the ten men in front, but fired into the side netting from Jason Adigun’s ball in from the left, but it was Littlehampton who went back in front with five minutes to go.

Kieron Pamment swung in a free-kick from the right and Faber got in front of his marker to head home from close range.

Borough needed a response – and they almost forced penalties with a chance deep into stoppage time. Adigun played a low ball through and Bamba spun away from the defence, but Chisholm was off his line quickly to save at the feet of the Borough man.

Not the night the Sports would have hoped for – with focus back on the National League South on Saturday.