Eastbourne Borough booked their place in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup after a scrappy win at Sholing.

Pemi Aderoju’s brace saw Matt Gray’s side prevail 2-1 in the Third Qualifying Round tie, which was played at AFC Portchester after ground grading issues at Sholing.

Michael Folivi had drawn the Southern League Premier South side level at half-time, but it is Borough who progress to the Fourth Qualifying Round stage for just the second time in five seasons.

Both teams observed a minute’s silence prior to the game at Onsite Group Stadium in memory of Billy Vigar – a former Borough player, who tragically passed away this week.

The Sports got off to a quick start – and went in front after just six minutes. Isaac Pitblado whipped in a free-kick from the left hand side and Aderoju lost his marker at the far post to plant his header beyond Craig King.

Chances didn’t come regularly during a cagey first half. Jake Hesketh picked out Spencer Spurway from a free-kick, but the defender couldn’t find the target with his header in the hosts’ first real chance on the half hour mark.

Jes Uchegbulam then went close to doubling Borough’s lead – driving down the left hand side before cutting inside, but his low drive was deflected wide of the near post by the feet of King.

Folivi had an effort cleared by Freddie Carter as the hosts looked to get forwards, before they were given the chance to draw level as the clock struck 45.

Striker Folivi was adjudged to have been fouled by Dan Quick inside the area, and he stepped up to fire the spot kick just beyond the reach of Ryan Sandford to find the bottom left corner.

Dan Wishart had a cross headed away as far as Folivi, who had a shot go straight at Sandford early in the second half, before Mo Sagaf fired over from the edge of the area at the other end.

Jayden Davis then made his return to action after injury in pre-season on 52 minutes – and he was in the thick of the action almost immediately.

The winger played the ball out to Quick on the right, and his ball in picked out Aderoju but his header was well saved by King diving to his left.

Folivi continued to be a threat – this time shooting just wide from a tight angle after doing well to find room for a shot – before King once again denied the Sports.

Pitblado lofted a free-kick to the far post and picked out Aderoju, but his header from point blank range was kept out by the home keeper.

However, the Sports were given the chance to go back in front with just under 20 minutes to go when Aderoju was hauled down by Brad Targett inside the area.

The striker stepped up and made no mistake – hammering the penalty high into the roof of the net to put Borough back in the ascendancy.

Sholing applied pressure late on as they looked to get back on level terms – with a fine block from Carter denying Vinnie Tume.

King came up for a corner deep in stoppage time, but Borough defended well before Wishart fired a low effort wide from the edge of the area with almost the last kick of the game.