After an energetic start to the FA Trophy tie, Eastbourne Borough took the lead, striking an early blow in the 5th minute.
Eastbourne midfielder Kai Corbett, who has had youth spells with the illustrious Barcelona and West Ham, was afforded space from long range and unleashed a right-footed drive into the bottom left corner of Harrison Foulkes’ goal.
Corbett, like manager Tommy Widdrington, arrived at Eastbourne from Aldershot, who have had recent success in their visits to Meadowbank, and following the goal, there was nearly further success, as Kai Corbett curled the ball narrowly wide after an interception.
Captain for the afternoon, James McShane, operating as a striker due to injuries, was at the heart of a quickly constructed equaliser soon after.
Having received the ball on the run, McShane squared the ball to Jimmy Muitt, who turned the ball home in a clinical fashion.
In continuation of the end-to-end theme of the match, it didn’t take long for the visitors to test Harrison Foulkes once again, who blocked shots from the likes of Josh Anifowose and Pemi Aderoju.
After an eventful first twenty-five minutes of the match, proceedings became quieter as both teams struggled to create chances for a large period, up until the 45th minute, when we took the lead on the stroke of half-time, courtesy of a Dennon Lewis cross which curled into the corner of the net.
With the first attack of the second half, our lead was doubled after good build-up play involving Jason Prior and James McShane, who chipped the ball into the path of Josh Taylor, who lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net, before midfielder Kai Corbett struck the bar from a free kick, almost showing his quality once more.
The away side, who we were defeated by in last season’s FA Trophy, continued to show attacking quality as they searched for a way back into the game midway through the second half.
Frontman Pemi Aderoju’s driven effort was met by Harrison Foulkes, who palmed the ball away, before Jimmy Muitt was left to rue a miscue from point-blank range, as the ball looped into the air and into Jamie Searle’s hands.
Foulkes was called into action once more minutes after, as he bravely used his body to stop an effort from Josh Anifowose.
In a similar manner to the first half, events in the early stages of the second half soon became less frequent, as both sides strove to retain possession of the ball and lacked cutting edge in the final third, before we made the first change of the afternoon as a host of changes took place before the final fifteen minutes of the affair.
However, Eastbourne Borough substitute Victor Akinwale wasted no time in making his presence known, arriving at the back post to reduce the deficit a minute later, before Kai Corbett once again came close, striking the side netting, as we were set for a nervy finale to the match.
Akinwale, among others, had efforts as the tie drew to a close, however, we were able to hold the lead, ensuring that we advance to the next round.
We return to league action next Saturday as we host Maidstone United at Meadowbank.