Generous start means even an Eastbourne Borough revival is not enough against Chelmsford City

The Sports had given their Essex visitors a much too generous welcome, gifting two goals to City in the opening six minutes. And after an unimpressive first half, they raised the tempo, the quality and the excitement levels after the break – but fell maddeningly short and suffered a 2-1 defeat.

In front of an expectant crowd of over 1,000 – many taking up Simon Leslie's "Football for a Fiver" offer – Borough fluffed their lines from the start, and despite a high-tempo and genuinely thrilling comeback after the break, they had only a Pemi Aderoju penalty to show for their mighty efforts.

Now, loyal readers, a little disclaimer: we always try to bring you the local sporting action "as live". But on Saturday, your Borough reporter had to miss the entire first half - a carol-singing gig, since you ask! - and, hurrying across the Priory Lane car park at half-time, I fielded at least half a dozen warnings from home fans: "Don't bother - it's dreadful!" "Terrible - haven't put a foot right!"

Fortunately, we all saw the 90 minutes through, and Tommy Widdrington's players deserve credit for that alone. But first, let Borough media officer Anthony Scott put the first half in context:

"Barely four minutes were on the clock when City's Archie Tamplin lifted the ball in from the right, and no home defender had picked up Joe Grimwood, whose diving header beat Woody Williamson on his debut (from Ipswich Town) in the Eastbourne goal,” he wrote.

"Within two minutes things went from bad to worse for the hosts, when they failed to clear their lines, and former Borough playmaker Jason Adigun scored with a delightful volley.

"This left Borough with a mountain to climb, and it might have been even more dire, but for a smart Williamson save to deny Kian Ronan. Josh Anifowose was proving a threat for Eastbourne, and he saw a goal bound effort held by City keeper Chris Haigh before the break."

And so to a genuinely strong second half by the chastened Sports – they were on the front foot from the very kick-off, and kept City defending deeper and deeper as the half unfolded. There was movement, pace, combative ball-winning and the sort of will to win that Widdrington will need as he steers his squad through the mid-winter.

Arthur Grout lifted a great ball in to Aderoju at the back post, but the Sports top scorer could not get enough on the header and Haigh made the save. But the pounding striker earned Eastbourne a pathway back into the game, tripped by a lunging defender as he forged into the City area - and stepping up to despatch the penalty confidently into the bottom corner.

Half an hour to rescue the game - but this was now a different contest. One team eager and full of running, the other team running down the clock.

So often, football pitches the eager energy against the cold cynicism – and demonstrates all the necessary dark arts. When a player suddenly sits down in midfield and clutches his knee or his ankle, you know why.

The Clarets may have claimed the three points, but their disappointing attitude put gamesmanship ahead of sporting values and the Sports trooped off the pitch disconsolate, but with some credibility restored.

Next time, lads, could we hit the ground running at 3pm sharp - whether or not the reporter makes the kick-off...