After suffering late heartbreak on Saturday, Eastbourne Borough will be looking to bounce back with vengeance. 

The Sports were on course for their second draw in as many matches to start the new Enterprise National League South season, but Hornchurch had other ideas.

Isaac Pitblado’s corner caught everyone out to give Borough an early lead, but they couldn’t make it stick as Myles Weston volleyed the visitors level before half-time.

Both teams had chances in the second half – but in the second minute of added time Angelo Balanta nodded home in a cruel twist to leave The Sports with nothing.

But The Sports can’t sit and lick their wounds – they have to go again and welcome Dover Athletic to The ReachTV Stadium just three days later.

The Whites are the only team in the National South to have tasted both victory and defeat from the first two games having beaten Dartford in the Isthmian Premier Play-Off Final back in May.

Kicking off the new season against fellow newly-promoted side AFC Totton, it was the Stags who got off to a perfect start – with the visitors taking a 3-0 lead into the break at  The Crabble.

Dover pushed forwards in the second half, but a brace from George Nikaj proved to be too little too late as Totton left 3-2 winners.

Jake Leberl’s side then travelled to Bath City on Saturday, and they went on to stun the Twerton Park crowd.

After a goalless first half in Somerset, Ruben Soares Jr and Francis Mampolo goals gave The Whites a two goal advantage on the hour mark.

Alex Fisher halved the deficit late on, but Dover held on to claim a great win on the road.

Dover returned to Step Two at the first attempt after finishing bottom of the standings back in 2023/24, despite finishing fifth in the Isthmian Premier last term.

Games against Dover have tended to favour the Kent side over the years – with Borough winning just one of the previous 14 meetings between the two. That win came in 2022, as Borough won 3-1. Jake Hutchinson scored twice, with Chris Whelpdale also on target.

It finished honours even in both games of the 2023/24 season. Zak Emmerson’s effort was enough for a 1-1 draw in Kent, before Jack Clarke scored a rare goal in March 2024 to cancel out Nikaj’s opener.

Another close game is expected then, and we need your support!