Eastbourne Borough produced a great attacking display as they beat Dover Athletic 5-2 at The Crabble.

Pemi Aderoju’s two first half penalties put the Sports in control in Kent, before further goals from Harry Phipps, an own goal and a cracker from Jayden Davis made sure it was the away fans who left with festive cheer.

It is the first time Borough have beaten Dover away from home – and they will be looking to carry that form into a busy period of games over the Christmas period.

Not even 30 seconds were on the clock when Borough threatened for the first time – Maxwell Mullins drawing a save from Mitch Walker after he flicked a good ball in from Davis – making his return to the starting line-up – towards goal.

Mullins was then almost the provider when he pulled the ball across from the byline to Aderoju, but from close range he was denied by former Borough keeper Walker.

The Sports were then given the chance to take a lead they deserved on twelve minutes, when Davis was tripped by Charles-Cook just inside the area. Aderoju stepped up, and coolly fired past the Dover keeper to make no mistake.

There were chances aplenty as the half progressed in Kent. Kai Corbett saw what would have been a superb solo goal denied by the fingertips of Walker diving to his left, before Mullins headed just wide when well placed.

Arthur Grout then clipped the ball in from the right and Aderoju rose highest, but saw his bullet header clip the outside of the post and go wide.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic, with Freddie Carter doing well to block Baptiste’s effort on goal at the expense of a corner, before the Sports doubled their advantage.

Walker spilled Corbett’s free-kick and Aderoju looked to pounce on the rebound, but was pulled down in a congested penalty box. The referee pointed to the spot for a second time, and it produced the same result – with Aderoju sending Walker the wrong way for his 13^th league goal of the campaign.

Dover almost halved the deficit before the break, but Mullins was well placed to clear Luca Cocoracchio’s header off the line at a corner.

Borough fans would have wanted more of the same second half, and on 52 minutes they extended their advantage.

Josh Anifowose whipped the ball in from the right hand side searching for Aderoju, but Jalen Jones’ header back towards his own goal looped beyond the reach of Walker and into his own net.

The attacking threat continued – Davis fired a low ball in from the left to Mullins, but his first-time effort was clawed away from goal by Walker.

But Dover – who made a triple change at the break – posed a greater threat at times. George Nikaj led a counter-attack and found George Wilkinson, who put the ball on a plate for Onu but the forward somehow fired off target from six yards.

And they pulled one back on the hour mark. Nikaj cut in from the left hand side and played the ball into the feet of Wilkinson, who shifted the ball onto his right foot before placing it into the bottom corner.

But barely a minute later, Borough restored their three goal lead – and in some style. Corbett found the feet of Davis 25 yards out in a central position, and the winger let fly as his left-footed strike gave Walker no chance.

And Borough made it 5-1 on 73 minutes, as Corbett’s corner from the right hand side picked out Phipps at the near post and his left-footed effort beat Walker at his near post.

Substitute Coker nodded home a consolation with six minutes to go for the hosts, and Borough would end the game with ten men after Carter was shown a second yellow card in bizarre circumstances.

Five goals and three points – there was plenty of cheer in the away end at the full-time whistle.