Carey keeps cool for FOUR shootout saves as Eastbourne Borough survive in soggy Surrey

On Saturday the Sports defied the elements and feisty opposition to progress to the next round of the FA Trophy – but only after an extraordinary penalty shoot-out and a sensational match-clinching performance by goalkeeper Lewis Carey. With the score locked at 2-2 after 90 minutes, it was straight to penalties - and Lewis saved four Leatherhead spot-kicks out of five.

Hosts and fellow Isthmian Premier side Leatherhead welcomed Borough after an exhausting week of their own in the FA Cup, bowing out 5-2 in a midweek replay at Yeovil Town.

The Tanners were welcoming hosts but the Weather Gods were anything but friendly, and the action was played out under a dark sky on a surface that was playable at 3pm, but which would resemble a stretch of Pevensey Marshes by the second half.

The Sports were 2-0 up, courtesy of Max Sheaf and Nathan Laleye’s first goals for the club, but they succumbed to Tanners pressure and conceded two in the last 20.

Steve King broyght six players into the starting XI, most notably Laleye making a first appearance since his arrival, and Shay Harrison returning from an injury.

It was clear from the start Leatherhead were up for it and they pinned the visitors back. From a short corner, Mark Waters blazed his effort narrowly over, and then Harry Murphy's strike was disallowed for a foul.

Borough battled back, and in the 21st minute they won their third corner. An Arthur Grout delivery was headed away before the ball, landing in a huge puddle, nicely set up Sheaf for a low drive which deflected and wrongfooted keeper Sonny Wheeler to put the Sports 1-0 ahead.

Almost immediately Laleye caught everyone by surprise, his cross skimming the bar, then Grout fizzed an effort just over. But just on half-time, the Tanners were almost level: Connor Harris looked to square for Nathan Hogan - until Matthew Hayden slid in to put behind for a corner.

After the break a boggy penalty area almost betrayed Borough. Carey’s miskick hit Freddie Carter and Harry Phipps made to clear but kicked the puddle alongside the ball. But almost instantly, Borough aquaplaned their way to the other end to double the lead.

A fine passing move ended up at the feet of Laleye on the left and he cut in before bending a sublime effort into the far corner, leaving Wheeler no chance.

The Tanners somehow failed to halve the deficit when Cameron Black headed against the post from a free-kick. The ball then sat in a puddle falling kindly for a Tanners forward - who whacked more water than leather and fired wide.

Home striker Hogan was left free at the back post, but a strong wrist from Lewis Carey prevented him and Borough survived. Then, a Tanners penalty - generously awarded against Josh Rees - saw Hogan step up to send Carey the wrong way.

In the 80th minute, defender Black pounced to swivel and strike past an unsighted Carey to make it 2-2. Two more great reaction saves from Carey sandwiched a Borough penalty appeal when Egbri had his shirt tugged, but a shootout was required.

Waters stepped up first but was denied by a diving Carey. Rees, up first for Borough, confidently dispatched his kick. Substitute Louis Paget next and Carey again guessed the right way and gave Owen Bellamy to chance to extend the lead.

Sonny Wheeler dived to his left and pushed wide, allowing Leatherhead to get level. Igozouln was next for the hosts, but Carey yet again made a marvellous save.

Grout tried to extend the advantage – but was denied by Wheeler. Hogan did get Leatherhead off the mark, but that was followed by Freddie Carter sending Wheeler the wrong way.

Finally, Marcel Barrington stepped up and he placed an effort to Carey’s left, but he was equal to it once again meaning it finished 2-1 on penalties to the Sports.

Take a bow, Lewis Carey - an extrardinary display of goalkeeping. And those who witnessed it will surely forget the hammering rain, the soggy rainwear, the swamp of a pitch, the damp ride home.

Additional reporting by EBFC media team