Eastbourne Borough kept their title hopes alive with a 1-0 win at Salisbury in the penultimate game of the campaign.

Michael Klass’ low strike in the second half proved the difference for The Sports in a scrappy contest at The Ray Mac Stadium.

The three points moves the Sports up to third in the National League South, only trailing Truro City and Torquay United by one point going into the final day.

Borough boss Adam Murray made four changes to the starting line up from Good Friday’s draw with Worthing, with Brad Barry, Klass, Jayden Davis and Alfie Pavey all coming in as the Sports looked to get back to winning ways.

In a scrappy first half, the Sports had the first effort of the game six minutes in. Yahaya Bamba found Klass down the right, and he pulled the ball back from the byline to Jayden Davis. The playmaker had his first shot blocked, before the ball eventually fell to David Sesay, but he dragged wide of the near post.

Chances were few and far between in a cagey encounter, with Ronan Silva failing to connect as he looked to shoot on the turn for the hosts, before Pavey volleyed just over under pressure for the Sports after good work from Freddie Carter.

Sesay then curled an effort over the bar, before the hosts responded moments later – although a great block from Kai Innocent saw Joshua Hedges’ effort go behind for a corner.

Borough then tested Rhys Byrne for the first time just before the break, but Bamba had his first-time effort well held by the Salisbury keeper.

Davis did well to find Klass in space on the edge of the area early in the second period, but the Sports number 10 could only fire well over as Borough looked to get on the front foot.

Sesay continued to be a threat down the left – this time his ball in found Pavey, who brought it down well but his left-footed strike was deflected over.

Then came the breakthrough. After being played into space, Klass found room on the edge of the box and his fierce low drive found the bottom corner, giving Byrne no chance.

However, Salisbury looked to get back on level terms and had their best chance come just minutes later. Finn Tonks got the ball in from the right and a half-headed clearance dropped to Hedges, but he could only volley over from ten yards out.

The Sports then thought they’d doubled their advantage when Pavey deflected Jack Clarke’s strike beyond Byrne, only for the flag to go up for offside against the Borough forward.

Salisbury enjoyed more possession as they looked to get back on level terms late on, but the Sports posed more of a threat on the counter – and should have sealed the deal late on when substitute Jason Adigun released Davis, but he fired over when well placed.

With results elsewhere, just three points separate the top six going into the final game of the season, with the Sports in third – one point behind Truro and Torquay.