Eastbourne Borough secured their first win of the Enterprise National League South season with a hard-fought win away at in-form Maidenhead United.

Tommy Widdrington’s second spell in charge couldn’t have got off to a better start, with Freddie Carter bundling the ball home in the second half to seal a 1-0 win at York Road.

The hosts pressed for an equaliser, but stern defending from the Sports meant they picked up their first league win of the campaign at the eleventh attempt.

Widdrington made three changes to the starting line up as he named his first eleven since returning to East Sussex last week, including the return of skipper Craig Eastmond.

Borough started well, but it was the hosts who had the first sight of goal. Remy Clerima drove forwards but was tackled inside the area, and the ball broke to Liam Dulson who was denied by Ryan Sandford – the Borough keeper saving well at his near post.

Josh Popoola was a threat for Maidenhead, and he found Dulson on the left but again Sandford held his effort on goal.

The closest Borough came to an opener came five minutes before the break. Harvey Lintott whipped the ball in from the right and picked out Pemi Aderoju, who saw his towering header held by Jordi van Stappershoef.

The hosts started the second half well, with substitute Corie Andrews latching onto a ball through from Popoola, but again Sandford was quick off his line to save at the forward’s feet.

Borough looked to build at the other end, with Tayt Trusty firing a low effort off target from the edge of the area, before Carter put his body on the line to deny Maidenhead – with Andrews hitting a first-time effort inside the area.

On 64 minutes, the breakthrough. Isaac Pitblado whipped in a corner from the right and van Stappershoef came for it and missed it, with the ball dropping at the feet of Carter who fired home from six yards.

Maidenhead huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser – Manny Onariase headed a Sam Barratt cross just wide of the post with eleven minutes to go, before Carter again threw himself in front of Asher Yearwood’s goal-bound effort to block.

And Borough continued to defend with everything they had to grind out their first win of the campaign.