A hat-trick from debutant Izzy Payne helped Eastbourne Borough Women seal a big 8-1 win over Horsham Sparrows at Priory Lane.

The Sports welcomed back Charlotte Gurr, Nicole Baitup and Abbie Tucker to the starting line up, whilst new signings Payne and Lola Dulake were named on the bench.

And it took Billy Wood’s side just two minutes to test the keeper. Tucker played a corner short to Gurr who took the shot on and saw her effort beaten away by Madeleine Sweet.

The Sports were then given a reminder that they couldn’t underestimate their opponents when Thea Ryder picked up a loose ball but one on one with Sophia Moule could only fire over.

However, the Sports did go in front after 11 minutes. Griffiths cut the ball inside to Sian Heather in space, and she shot beyond Sweet from twelve yards.

Borough kept pressing, and nearly doubled their lead minutes later when Gurr had a shot on the spin kept out with a fine save from Sweet to her left, tipping the ball onto the post.

Sweet then kept Sparrows in the game with a fine point blank save to deny Gurr after good work from Heather, before Griffiths could only shoot wide after Tucker did well to put her in on goal.

Kellie Larkin was the next to be denied by Sweet, making a fine save to her left after shooting from outside the area.

But ten minutes before the break, the Sports did double their lead when Griffiths teed up Gurr just inside the area and despite Sweet getting her fingertips on it, the ball found the far corner.

A superb save from Sweet then denied Heather from getting a second, with a full-stretch save to tip the ball over the top corner, but she couldn’t prevent the hosts getting a third five minutes before the break.

Claire Johnson’s cross wasn’t really cleared by Horsham Sparrows and the ball fell to Larkin on the edge of the box, and her shot through a crowded area found the bottom corner.

There was still time for Griffiths to be denied by the crossbar before the break, but the Sports wasted little time in adding to their lead after the break.

Borough worked a corner short and Griffiths fired the ball in to an unmarked Todd at the far post who applied the finishing touch.

However, the visitors did get on the scoresheet soon after when a handball was awarded inside the area and Ryder fired beyond Moule from the spot.

Despite that, Borough looked to get back on the front foot and made it 5-1 on 50 minutes. Claire Johnson crossed in from the right and picked out debutant Payne who finished emphatically beyond Sweet.

And eventful start to the second half wasn’t over yet, with the Sports adding a sixth two minutes later. Gurr was the provider this time when her low ball from the left picked out Tucker in the middle and her flick on found the far corner.

The Sports weren’t finished there, and should have made it seven on the hour mark but Heather could only fire wide when well placed, before Payne got her second moments later.

Payne had to be patient to make her debut after waiting for international clearance to come through, and she shone in her first match in Borough colours. Gurr lifted the ball in from the left to the attacking midfielder who made no mistake from close range to make it 7-1.

And she completed her hat-trick on 77 minutes. Emma Wood crossed in from the left and picked out Dulake at the far post. Her first time effort came back off the angle of the woodwork, and Payne was quickest to react to finish beyond Sweet.

It could have still been more for Borough, with Baitup and then Molly Rose denied in the same passage of play after Becky Simmons whipped in a corner, before Wood drove forwards from left back only to see her strike from 25 yards come back off the bar.

With just one league game to go, the Sports will be hoping to finish the season strongly in their hopes for second spot.