Angelo Balanta’s stoppage time goal saw Eastbourne Borough suffer their first defeat of the new Enterprise National League South season.

Isaac Pitblado’s goal direct from a corner had put Borough in front in the first half against Hornchurch at The ReachTV Stadium.

However, Myles Weston volleyed home an equaliser before half-time, with the visitors going on to win it through substitute Balanta in the second minute of time added on.

Matt Gray named an unchanged side from the draw at Farnborough on the opening day – but it was the visitors who went on the front foot early on, with only a great challenge from Camron Gbadebo denying Will Greenidge a sight of goal.

Borough looked to get on the front foot themselves – with good defending preventing Pemi Aderoju from setting George Alexander through on goal – before the hosts went in front on 14 minutes.

Isaac Pitblado’s inswinging corner from the right hand side was low, and evaded everyone at the near post, with goalkeeper Arthur Nasta unable to keep the ball out.

Jamie Searle was then alert to hold Henry Hearn’s overhead kick as the visitors looked for a response – though the Sports went close at the other end themselves but Victor Akinwale’s low effort lacked the power to really test Nasta.

Clear chances were at a premium for either side. Gbadebo was well placed to clear Darren McQueen’s low effort, whilst Tayt Trusty’s ball in had just too much on it to find a red shirt at the far post.

The Sports almost doubled the lead on the half hour mark when Jes Uchegbulam did well to drive down the left, and his fierce drive was parried away by Nasta. However, the ball rebounded off defender Josh Hare, and the keeper had to stretch to tip it over the bar.

Aderoju then couldn’t quite get enough on his header to divert Pitblado’s resulting corner goalwards, before the hosts went close again through another set-piece. Uchegbulam’s delivery from the left found Trusty at the far post, and his looping header back across goal was headed off the line by Charlee Adams.

However, Hornchurch got back on level terms five minutes before the break. Weston had a low shot blocked by Pitblado and the loose ball fell to Josh Rees, who had a piledriver cannon back off the bar and fall nicely back to Weston, and his first time strike gave Searle no chance.

The Sports stopper then had to be at his best to deny the visitors early in the second half, making a fine point-blank save to keep out Rees, before Borough had a great chance to regain the lead on the hour mark.

Uchegbulam’s low ball through split the away defence, and set Alexander with a path to goal, but he pulled his effort wide of the far post.

As the half wore on, Hornchurch continued to press forwards. Searle did well to turn Charlie Ruff’s free-kick away, before Rees forced the keeper into another save with a header.

Substitute Joey Phuthi then led a quick counter attack for Borough, but his eventual shot from the edge of the area was saved by Nasta.

Just when a point apiece looked set, the visitors had other ideas. McQueen whipped the ball in from the left hand side and substitute Balanta guided a header beyond Searle.

The Sports looked to push forwards, but couldn’t find the equaliser to condemn them to a first league defeat of the campaign.