Maidstone will put Eastbourne Borough play-off hopes to the test

Eastbourne Borough’s play-off push faces one of its stiffest tests on Saturday when Maidstone United arrive at Priory Lane.
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While much attention will be on the club’s support for the No More Red anti-violence campaign, the match is huge in terms of the hopes both teams have of having a successful end to the 2021-22 season.

Maidstone United and their supporters always travel in numbers and 300 to 400 visiting fans are expected among a bumper Priory Lane crowd, for whom extra turnstiles will be open and extra staff and stewards in attendance, with supporters to arrive earlier than usual.

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Maidstone – sometimes regarded as a big fish in the smaller National South pool – are on a surge up the league table and straining for promotion. They sit second, just three points behind leaders Dorking with a game in hand.

Borough got the better of the Angels on Tuesday night / Pictures: Nick and Lydia RedmanBorough got the better of the Angels on Tuesday night / Pictures: Nick and Lydia Redman
Borough got the better of the Angels on Tuesday night / Pictures: Nick and Lydia Redman

But Danny Bloor’s Borough will be unfazed.

“You respect all opposition, and ultimately you play the eleven opponents in front of you. We are in good shape and loving our football,” he said.

Borough battle against Tonbridge / Pictures: Nick and Lydia RedmanBorough battle against Tonbridge / Pictures: Nick and Lydia Redman
Borough battle against Tonbridge / Pictures: Nick and Lydia Redman

That love of the game Borough have right now has yielded another four points from the past two matches.

They dug in for a 0-0 draw at Braintree last Saturday before goals by Dom Hutchinson, Charley Kendall and Joel Rollinson earned a 3-1 home win over Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday night, putting Bloor’s men back up to sixth place, in the lower reaches of the play-off zone.