Eastbourne Borough return to National League South action tomorrow (Saturday) when they take on Weymouth at Bob Lucas Stadium.
The Sports will be refreshed after having a break from action due to Torquay’s Emirates FA Cup involvement, and will be keen to continue from where they left off a fortnight ago.
Opposition Watch
Weymouth, like Borough, haven’t enjoyed the start they would have hoped after Bobby Wilkinson assembled a new-look squad over the summer. The Terras come into the game one point behind the Sports in the National League South table, but are unbeaten in their last four league games.
A 3-1 win at Dover Athletic has been followed by draws with Chippenham Town (1-1), Slough Town (0-0) and then Tonbridge Angels (1-1) to leave them 18th in the table.
Last season, Wilkinson guided Weymouth to the ‘great escape’, winning four of their last five matches to preserve their National League South status on goal difference ahead of relegated Dulwich Hamlet.
This season, Weymouth have found goals hard to come by however, scoring 12 so far in their 12 league games – three of which came at Dover – and only Welling United and Dover have scored fewer (11).
The Dorset side will also have a familiar face lining up against Borough, with Joel Rollinson joining Weymouth in the summer following his departure from Priory Lane.
Last Time Out
The Sports showed great character to come from behind twice before going on to win at St. Albans City a fortnight ago for only their fourth win of the campaign.
After suffering an early blow when Mitchell Weiss gave the hosts the lead after just 26 seconds, Borough grew into the game but it was the introduction of Zak Emmerson at half-time that ultimately made the difference.
The Blackpool loanee scored his first senior goal within thirty seconds of the restart, before going on to complete a second half hat-trick as the Sports sealed a 3-2 win at Clarence Park.
Head to Head
Historically, the Sports have won five of their 11 previous meetings with Weymouth, with the Terras winning four and two games ending in a draw.
Borough completed the league double over Weymouth last term, with Ryan Bartley’s effort giving the Sports a 1-0 win in Dorset back in April. That win followed a 5-1 thrashing at Priory Lane in October 2022, with Shiloh Remy and Leone Gravata among the scorers that afternoon.
Weymouth’s last win over Eastbourne came back in October 2008 in the Conference Premier, with the Terras winning 3-2 at Bob Lucas Stadium. Pierre Joseph-Dubois scored a stoppage time winner for the hosts, with Matt Crabb and Matt Smart on target for the Sports. Weymouth would go on to be relegated that season, whilst Garry Wilson’s Borough side finished 13th – above the likes of Forest Green Rovers, Barrow and Ebbsfleet United.
Ticket Information
Tickets for travelling Borough supporters can be purchased online here. Alternatively, you can pay on the turnstile, where cash and card payments are accepted.
Adult: £16, Concessions (Over-65, Students, Armed Forces*): £12, Youth (13-17): £6, Junior (7-12): £3, Under 7: Free.
* Proof of ID may be required