Eastbourne Borough FC climbed to the top of the league in emphatic fashion, defeating Hemel Hempstead Town 5-2 away from home, with Alexander’s stunning hat-trick leading the charge. After an evenly contested first half, Borough found themselves behind but responded with a clinical second-half performance to claim the three points. New signing Ollie Kensdale made his debut, adding further strength to a team now setting the pace in the league.
Borough wasted no time making their mark, striking in the 2nd minute. A clever set-piece routine saw the Borough corner directed towards Odusanya, who’s initial shot was saved by King. The ball rebounded back to Odusanya, who crossed it in again, and Alexander was perfectly placed to poke it home, putting Borough in the lead. Hemel Hempstead responded with intensity, however, and levelled the score in the 18th minute when German met a cross with a powerful header, beating Wright to make it 1-1.
Borough continued to press forward, with Klass and Johnson creating opportunities, but Hemel defended well and took advantage of a corner in the 43rd minute. Iaciofano was left unmarked and headed home, giving The Tudors a 2-1 lead just before the interval. Despite the setback, Borough showed resilience, nearly equalising through Diarra in stoppage time before heading into halftime determined to turn the game around.
Coming out for the second half, Borough set the tone immediately, showing attacking intent. In the 47th minute, Bamba made a powerful run down the right, beating his marker to square the ball across to Johnson, who smashed it in, scoring his first goal for the club. The equaliser lifted Borough’s spirits, and they pressed relentlessly, keeping The Tudors pinned in their own half. Their efforts were rewarded again in the 54th minute as Carter, following a well-worked interplay with Klass and Johnson, slotted home to put Borough back in the lead at 3-2.
Borough continued their attacking momentum and extended their lead in the 57th minute with a swift counter-attack. Johnson won the ball in Borough’s half, played it forward to Alexander, who linked up with Klass. After a well-timed pass from Klass, Alexander finished clinically to make it 4-2. The Tudor’s frustration was evident, and in the 62nd minute, Kawimbe was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Johnson, putting the home side down to ten men.
With a man advantage, Borough maintained control of the match. Alexander completed his hat-trick in the 85th minute, following a superb run by C. Clarke down the right flank. Clarke’s low cross found Alexander in the box, who controlled, turned, and slotted the ball into the bottom corner, sealing the 5-2 victory. New signing Ollie Kensdale made his debut late in the game, adding to Borough’s defensive depth and helping secure the result.
Wright and the defence played their part in keeping Hemel at bay, with Wright making a crucial save in the closing minutes and Bird clearing a header off the line. Borough’s overall performance showcased their attacking prowess and defensive resilience, leaving no doubt about their ambition this season.
With this impressive win, Borough now sit proudly at the top of the league and will look to maintain their position in the upcoming fixture. The Sports return home to face Welling United on Tuesday, 5th November, with tickets available for just £5 in advance. Fans are encouraged to come and support the team as they continue their pursuit of the title.
