Eastbourne Borough Academy, in partnership with Bexhill College, opened the 2025/26 National League Alliance season with a 1-0 away win against Tonbridge Angels.
Eastbourne included two debutants in their starting XI with a further three on the bench, and it was the away side who started the stronger asking questions of the Tonbridge defence but were just lacking the cutting edge in the final third. Tyano Wilson had a few flashes at goal but couldn’t find the target whilst Conor Keeley placed a shot over the bar at the back post.
The best chance of the first period came from a set piece when Anthony Thomas rose highest from a corner but his firm header was met by a super save from the keeper. Toby Whiteside in the Borough goal was an onlooker for the half as the teams went in level at the break.
The 2nd half started in a similar pattern with Borough on the front foot, and just 15 minutes into the half, the pressure told, and Borough gained the lead. Newly appointed captain Ash Latuske drove inside from the left-hand side and played a perfectly weighted pass in behind the defence for debutant Leo Ginger to run through on goal, who finished with aplomb, chipping the on-rushing keeper to give his side the lead.
The goal woke the home side up who started to threaten more and saw more of the ball as they pushed for the equaliser, but only called Whiteside into action once with a simple stop. The game should have been wrapped up with ten minutes to go as Tyano Wilson found himself through on goal but could only put his effort wide of the post, a chance which happened to be the last of the game.
As the whistle blew for full time, Borough celebrated an opening day win and clean sheet, the perfect away win to start the season with 3 points as they bid to retain their status as league champions.
Manager Shane Lovell said “It wasn’t the easiest of games despite our dominance, we certainly lacked a cutting edge in the final third which would of seen us win more comfortably but as opening days go with a new squad, we can’t complain”.
MOTM – Jimmy Holman – A monstrous display from the centre half who made sure the Tonbridge forwards were starved of any service.
