The football season is often compared to a marathon – not a sprint – and Eastbourne Borough will be looking to kick-start their season against Hemel Hempstead Town at The ReachTV Stadium.

Matt Gray’s side have accrued just two points from their seven Enterprise National League South fixtures so far, and the Borough boss knows that improvement is needed.

Tuesday night’s loss away at Horsham won’t live long in the memory on a difficult night for The Sports, where clear chances were hard to come by.

Borough made two signings ahead of the game at Fusion Aviation Community Stadium – with Mazeed Ogungbo coming on to make his debut, and former trialist Laiith Fairnie an unused substitute in West Sussex.

Hemel Hempstead Town travel to The ReachTV Stadium buoyed by a great start to the season, which has seen them lose just one of the opening seven games.

Sitting in fifth spot in the fledgling table, only Dagenham & Redbridge have beaten the Tudors so far – with Lee Allinson’s side winning three and drawing three.

On paper, Hemel were handed arguably the toughest start to the new season. They were given four of last season’s top seven, as well as three teams relegated from the National League, in their first eight games – and have come out the other side in good shape.

Both Dorking Wanderers and Torquay United have left Hertfordshire beaten, whilst they have also drawn with Maidstone United, Maidenhead United and then Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday night as they continued their good form at the start of the season.

Both teams had chances for a winner, but the game finished goalless at Focus Community Arena.

In recent meetings, The Sports have dominated – with The Tudors winning just one of the last eleven meetings between the two – a 1-0 win at Hemel in November 2023.

Last season, George Alexander’s hat-trick saw The Sports come from behind to storm to a 5-2 win at Focus Community Arena, with Brayden Johnson and Freddie Carter on target.

And Borough were set to complete the league double at The ReachTV Stadium in February – another hat-trick from Alexander putting them 3-1 up. However, Hemel fought back with Brandon Barzey and then Ben Tompkins seeing them earn a point after an entertaining 3-3 draw.

The Sports will be hoping for a repeat of 2023’s 3-0 win, which had Charlie Walker, Leone Gravata and Shiloh Remy all on target.