Bloor delighted as Borough beat Hungerford - now for Dartford test

Eastbourne Borough boss Danny Bloor felt his team dominated after the Sports secured a 3-2 victory against Hungerford Town.
Borough jump to it against Hungerford / Picture: Andy PellingBorough jump to it against Hungerford / Picture: Andy Pelling
Borough jump to it against Hungerford / Picture: Andy Pelling

Charlie Lambert scored twice on his first league start for Borough, with Joel Rollinson scoring what turned out to be the decisive goal at Priory Lane. Ryan Seager got a brace for Hungerford, with a sublime free kick before a late penalty gave the scoreline a closer look than the match itself.

“Hungerford aren’t in the position they are in the league for nothing,” said Bloor. “But I felt we absolutely dominated from start to finish. We created enough chances and on another day could have won by a lot more, and you always worry when at 1-1 you miss these.

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“But at the same time you have to be confident in your team, and it’s great for Charlie Lambert to step up and take his opportunities.”

Borough are back in action this evening (Feb 9) at Dartford - where a pitch inspection has ruled the game can go ahead despite plenty of snow in the region in the past couple of days.

On Saturday, there was little to choose between the teams early on as seventh played fourth in the National League South table, but as the game wore on it was Eastbourne who were in control.

James Hammond whipped in a corner which picked out Steven James, but his bullet header went narrowly over the wrong side of the bar before Chris Whelpdale’s glancing header went just past the far post.

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And it was the hosts who went in front after 20 minutes on the Sussex coast. Joel Rollinson broke into the Hungerford penalty area and a mixture of Keith Emmerson and Curtis Angell tackled him. However, the ball rolled across the face of goal and Lambert was quickest to react to fire past Luke Cairney.

Back came the visitors, however, and only a terrific save from Franco Ravizzoli denied Seager, whose downward header from Rhys Tyler’s cross looked destined for the net.

However, Borough continued to appear in control of proceedings and only a great block from Angell denied Rollinson after good work on the counter attack from Greg Luer.

Despite rarely threatening the Borough goal after that, Hungerford drew level in spectacular style on the stroke of half time. Seager chanced his luck with a free kick close to 30 yards out, and he curled the ball beautifully beyond Ravizzoli and into the top corner.

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The Sports were on the front foot early into the second half, with Whelpdale stinging the palms of Cairney before the Hungerford stopper produced a great save to deny Rollinson, who met Kai Innocent’s low ball across.

At 1-1, it looked like the Sports’ chance of three points would be thwarted by Cairney, who saved brilliantly from Luer, Rollinson and then Luer again before Lambert fired the hosts in front on 70 minutes.

Whelpdale did well on the edge of the box to find the young forward, who drove the ball low from 18 yards out beyond the reach of Cairney and into the bottom corner.

A moment of confusion in defence nearly gifted Town an equaliser when Emmerson’s long ball caused a mix up between James and Ravizzoli, but thankfully James’ backward header, under pressure from Craig Fasanmade, went just wide of the post

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And with Hungerford pushing forward looking for the leveller, the Sports added a third in the last minute of normal time. Hammond lifted the ball over the top of the defence to Rollinson, who looked to have taken too long as Cairney back-tracked towards his own goal but despite that the winger produced a fine finish to lift the ball over the stranded keeper from 25 yards.

It looked like the game was safe, but there was still time for Hungerford to reduce the deficit when Seager converted a penalty won by James Harding as the Sports returned to action with a big three points.