Murray relishes clash as in-form Eastbourne Borough welcome Worthing to town

Tomorrow (Good Friday) Priory Lane’s biggest crowd for fifteen years will witness Borough’s most important game over that same period. Good friends and fierce rivals – yes, there is no contradiction – Worthing Football Club go head to head in search of a crucial, and possibly season-defining, victory.

The ReachTV stadium is already sold out, with some 3,600 spectators expected, and the message is: arrive early, get settled in the April sunshine, and enjoy the action. Just twice in Borough’s history, the three-thousand hurdle has been passed. An epic televised FA Cup tie with Oxford United in 2005 drew 3,660 spectators, and over 3,100 witnessed the 2010 visit of AFC Wimbledon.

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Revised safety assessments have reduced the ground capacity slightly, and the match with Worthing will feel quite a tight fit. But if the game itself lives up to its billing, nobody will be complaining. Two teams in great form, a realistic title chance for the victors, and the quest for the most favourable play-off place also at stake.

The Rebels will arrive with their confidence high. Chris Agutter’s team have shaken off a couple of surprise March defeats to lower opposition, and they are bang in goal-scoring form. Striker Danny Cashman always catches the eye, but Worthing have other goal threats – and they also have extremely recent play-off pedigree, having lost last season’s final to a dramatic last-minute goal by Braintree Town.

The Sports, though, are actually the form team of National South. A combination of tight, gritty away victories and free-scoring performances at home has given Adam Murray’s side an impressive launch pad for this final assault.

Get Borough-Worthing updates on the day on this website.

But the Borough manager will need to steer his side through an unexpected personnel crisis. Two players – Moussa Diarra and Courtney Clarke – are suspended after their on-field altercation at the end of Eastbourne’s last home game, against Weymouth. And Murray will be checking on the fitness of at least two other players after a bruising afternoon at St Albans City, last time out.

Murray remains upbeat. “To be where we are now, from where we were twelve months ago, the journey has been incredible.

“To be fair, what Worthing have achieved over the last three or four seasons has been amazing, but after their previous near misses in the last two seasons, I think the pressure is on them to achieve promotion.

“I could lie to my players and tell them this is just another game – but there is no way to dress this one up! What I can truthfully tell them is that, whatever happens, we have had a great season. The club is still in a building phase – and if we can make an early jump in that process, great. But whatever happens, we have made huge progress as a team and as individuals, and I am brimming with pride for them.”

And will Friday’s encounter be a cagey affair, or another of Borough’s football with the handbrake off? “I think we’ll be on the front foot, partly because we have a whole clutch of young quick players who are best playing that way – and partly because injuries and suspensions mean that we’ve got no defenders!”

The Gaffer is slightly over-stating that last issue, but the Good Friday team-sheet will probably show a little bit of improvisation. The result? Well, a draw would not destroy the title ambitions of either club, but this encounter will surely not finish goalless!

Supporters without one of those 3,200 precious tickets can watch the game live via the National League’s televised pay-per-game service DAZN – accompanied by full live commentary on BBC Radio Sussex. Yes, it could go either way – but either way, it won’t be dull!

CROWD WILL BE 3,600-PLUS

Eastbourne Borough have clarified the attendance cap for their huge National South showdown with Worthing - but it's still a sell-out!

Earlier in the week the Sports had indicated a crowd limit of around 3,200 - the number of tickets already sold - plus an allowance for some other groups of spectators such as members of Borough youth teams, who have free admission to first team games.

Some supporters were surprised by that figure, given the stadium's historic record attendance of 3,662 - achieved in 2005 at a memorable FA Cup tie against Oxford United. The club has now clarified that 3,662 is indeed the official capacity, for which the ground has a safety licence - and Borough expect that figure to be reached - but not of course exceeded.

But absolutely no tickets will be on sale at the turnstiles - so unless they already have their precious admission ticket, supporters must content themselves with the live televised feed on the National League's DAZN service.

The whole match will be screened - with live commentary by BBC Radio Sussex - in both clubhouses, at Priory Lane and at Woodside Road, although the Herald understands that tickets for the Woodside Road screening have all been snapped up already.

And on a public holiday with limited rail services and some major A27 roadworks, there is good news for spectators (as well as local residents!). The extensive grassed areas at the front of the ReachTV Stadium will be available for free parking. Do please follow the stewards' directions!

Thiswebsite will have updates on Friday afternoon, followed by a full match report, with our usual stunning photo gallery.