In a repeat of the FA Trophy tie on 15th November, and Tommy Widdrington’s fourth visit to Meadowbank this season including a pre-season tie with Aldershot, we played host to Eastbourne Borough FC, sitting in 23rd in the National League South.
The visitors had the first chance in the match, after good football allowed Josh Anifowose to break free down the left-hand side before cutting in and curling an effort just past Harrison Foulkes’ right-hand post.
The visitors’ last two encounters were entertaining ones, losing 7-0 against Torquay before defeating Hampton and Richmond Borough FC 6-0, however, in the opening twenty-five minutes of the affair, there was little to separate the two sides, as we were unable to register a shot on target.
That soon changed, however, as a good run from Dennon Lewis allowed the winger to float in a cross for Jason Prior whose header was saved, before Charlie Carter saw a shot from the edge of the box blocked.
After our first shot on target, the opening goal in the match swiftly followed.
Captain Charlie Carter scored against the visitors in the FA Trophy last season, and, following his return from injury, he was able to repeat the feat in the 34th minute.
Carter embarked on a mazy run before unleashing a shot from the edge of the box that was deflected into the goal, wrong-footing Ryan Sandford and putting us 1-0 up.
The visitors continued to attack following the goal, with Maxwel Mullins looping a header over the crossbar, and illustrious midfielder Kai Corbett attempting to loop the ball over Harrison Foulkes from near the halfway line, winning a corner for his efforts.
Just before the half-time whistle, Eastbourne Borough came mightily close to an equaliser, as Pemi Aderoju, who scored four goals in Eastbourne Borough’s last match, attacked a cross with a header that was saved in a spectacular manner by Harrison Foulkes.
The second half started in the manner in which the first half ended, with the visitors producing a multitude of attacks and coming mightily close to an equaliser via a Pemi Aderoju header, and a Kai Corbett free kick, which sailed just past the right-hand post.
For all their pressure, Tommy Widdrington’s young side ultimately found themselves two goals down in the 64th minute, as Dan Pybus produced a spectacular free kick that nestled in the top left-hand corner of our goal to extend our lead.
It did not take long for the visitors to reduce the margin to a one-goal deficit once more however, as captain Harry Phipps struck the ball from the edge of the box into the top right-hand corner of the goal.
In response, we increased our lead to two goals once more, with Charlie Carter slotting the ball into the bottom right-hand corner quickly after we made a double substitution.
With proceedings drawing to a close, Dennon Lewis came close to adding to the lead, drawing a good save from Ryan Sandford.
The ending to the match was an eventful one, as Jaydon Davis scored for the visitors before captain Charlie Carter rounded off his hat-trick to make it 4-2 with a composed finish into the bottom corner.
We return to Meadowbank next Saturday as we host Bath City in the next round of the FA Trophy.