Archie Procter’s first senior goal and Siya Ligendza’s penalty gave Eastbourne Borough a well deserved win over Farnborough.
The Sports were well worth the win – their first under Adam Murray – to close the gap on Taunton Town in the fight for survival.
Procter’s early strike had put Borough in front at Priory Lane, only to be pegged back by Ollie Robinson’s close range finish after ten minutes.
The Sports dominated proceedings after the break, however, and got the goal they deserved when Ligendza fired home from the penalty spot to give them a 2-1 win.
There were five changes from the starting line up that lost 2-1 to Aveley on Tuesday, including debuts for Ollie Turner, Finn Ballard McBride and Pierce Bird, whilst Sam Beard returned from a two-game suspension.
And The Sports got off to the dream start – taking the lead inside three minutes. Jack Clarke played the ball through to Procter breaking down the left and he struck a first time effort beyond Jack Turner and into the top corner for not only his first goal for the club, but his first goal in senior football.
However, they were pegged back inside the first ten minutes when Aaron Kuhl’s cross was kept alive by Olly Pendlebury and he played the ball across for Robinson to turn it home from close range.
Both teams struggled to really get a grip on the game after the early exchanges, but Ben Dudzinski made a fine to his right to turn Pendlebury’s effort from 18 yards out away from goal as the interval approached.
Farnborough’s physical approach threatened the boil over just before the break. Debutant Bird clashed off the ball with Robinson, with the visiting skipper getting on top of the defender and pinning him down by his neck, yet only saw yellow.
The Sports started the second half on top and went close shortly after the restart when substitute Leone Gravata whipped in a dangerous ball from the left and picked out Moussa Diarra, but he could only head just wide of the near post.
Clarke’s low corner then found Ballard McBride but his low effort on goal was blocked, before Ligendza held off a challenge but only to see his effort 25 yards out fizz just over.
Clarke then fired wide himself before the Sports were given the chance to go in front with 73 minutes on the clock. David Sesay was hacked down inside the area by Selim Saied, and Siya Ligendza stepped up to fire home his second goal in three games.
However, with time ticking down the visitors almost drew level. A corner in from the left picked out Jordan Norville-Williams, whose header beat Ben Dudzinski but only for Sesay to head off the line.
The full-time whistle was greeted with cheers from the home crowd as the Sports celebrated only their fourth home win of the campaign – and first since November 11th.