It’s a perfect week for Eastbourne United in league and cup

First change you notice is the slick new electronic scoreboard as you come in, followed by the in-game scorers and substitute announcements.

The third thing on Saturday was that autumn had finally arrived. The wind was blowing towards the sea end and was always going to make for a more difficult match plan.

United were more or less unchanged again for the SCFL Premier visit of Crawley Down Gatwick, who were looking to kick start their season after an indifferent first few matches.

A week or so earlier they had despatched league leaders Haywards Heath, and were looking to do the same to second-placed United. It was a familiar pattern as both Charlie Ball and James Stone went close, Stone’s shot well saved, before Crawley Down took advantage of some defensive confusion to snatch the lead.

Overy tested the keeper twice more before Stone cut inside to feed Callum Barlow, no mistake from the big man for 1-1. Ball tested the keeper again before Joe Overy crossed deep, and Ball finally got past Watson-Price to make it 2-1 to United.

Despite more United pressure, it stayed 2-1 at the break, but you could see there was more to come.

United’s prolific front line made it 3-1 with just five second-half minutes gone, this time it was Ryan Blunt applying the finishing touch.

Substitute Freddie Jones has looked impressive and after he replaced Ball on 65 minutes, it was less than a minute later that he made it 4-1. Crawley Down battened down the hatches but to no avail – United pummelled the goal, and right at the death Jorge Nones scored his first senior goal to make it 5-1.

On Tuesday night, United made the short trip to a rain-soaked Polegrove to play Bexhill United in the Peter Bentley Cup.

United were unchanged, with the exception of Sam Scott pulling up in the warm-up, to be replaced by Sam Cooper.

The first attempt went to Bexhill, Jack Shonk making Secka save well, before Overy just shot wide. James Stone is looking stronger every match, and he’d already tested the keeper twice when on the half hour mark he made it 1-0 to Eastbourne.

Within moments, Barlow was brought down and the ref pointed to the spot, Barlow himself taking the penalty to make it 2-0.

A minute into added time, Overy crossed again, for Barlow to get his second, and 13th of the season, for 3-0.

Bexhill looked down and out, but on the hour they scored one on the break, 3-1 still though seeming too big a mountain.

United are through to the quarter-finals and will be away to Jarvis Brook, and with surely a feeling of contentment as they kept up the pressure on the league and cups.

On Saturday, the visitors to the Oval are in form Roffey, for what is sure to be a hard fought SCFL Premier match, 3pm kick-off.

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Eastbourne Town have slipped to the bottom of the Isthmian South East table after losing two away games in the past week, writes Steve Bone.

Jude Macdonald’s Town will be out to reverse recent fortunes when they return to The Saffrons on Saturday (Oct 24) to host Punjab United.

Last Saturday they lost 1-0 at Herne Bay, a first half Josh Ajayi goal leaving them without reward.

In midweek they visited leaders Hastings United and pushed them all the way before losing 3-1. An Alfie Rogers penalty put Town ahead on 32 minutes and it was still 1-1 with minutes left, but United found two late goals to win the derby.