The day the battle was lost: Eastbourne Borough can’t beat Tonbridge – and relegation is the result

The Sports have three league fixtures to complete, but they cannot now climb out of the bottom four, and will begin next season in the Isthmian Premier - more than two decades after their original promotion to step two in the then Dr Martens League.

"This is the way the world ends," wrote the great English poet TS Eliot, "not with a bang but with a whimper."

Well, not quite the world, but at least the "Saturday fix" which sustains the footballing red-and-whites of our town. And the mood among the home crowd was one of resignation rather than anger.

Ollie Stidder, from the club's media staff, takes up the story of a game that marked an unwelcome milestone at a subdued and reflective Priory Lane:

Ricky Korboa struck early into the first half to give the visitors the lead before Quevin Castro equalised just before the hour mark to give Borough hope. Yet, results didn’t go the Sports way, which meant they could no longer catch Farnborough in 20th.

Steve King made three changes from the side that suffered heartbreak at Worthing, with goalkeeper Alex Hobden brought in for his debut, alongside Harvey Skieters, who made his full debut, and Quevin Castro. Dan Quick also started – for his 100th appearance for the club.

It was an electric start from both sides. Harvey Skieters drove past a couple of Tonbridge defenders before having his fierce drive beaten away by Matt Rowley. It was then Tom Leahy’s chance to open the scoring, but he put his effort beyond the far post.

Castro had the chance to put the Sports ahead. He rounded keeper Rowley after being played through by Lee Angol, but couldn’t remain on balance before the angle was against him, and he could only find the side netting.

The visitors claimed an early lead. After bringing the ball down from a goal kick, Korboa combined with Alfie Pavey and Matt Warren to enter the box and curl into the far corner.

The tempo lowered, with both sides struggling to fashion a shot on goal. The Borough backline remained strong to deny Sean Shields from making it two before Freddie Carter came close for the home side, but he could only power his header over the top from an Arthur Grout corner.

Angol was played in on goal by Tayt Trusty but the forward could only get a toe to the ball and his effort was diverted wide.

The second half started as the first had, with Borough looking to put their first half woes behind them. Adam May had his drive from distance parried away, before Craig Eastmond saw his attempt blocked. Harvey Lintott was seemingly brought down in the area following a driving run, but nothing was given by referee Gary Parsons

The home side’s equaliser came 14 minutes into the second half. Castro bagged his first goal in front of the Borough faithful as he found the far corner superbly following a nett through ball from May.

A flurry of May free-kicks then caused panic in the Angels’ box and Angol was denied by Rowley after he brilliantly feinted past a couple of defenders.

Tonbridge could have retaken the lead through a header by substitute Naz Bakrin that went wide.

Carter dealt with Frankie Baker as he was through on goal and debutant Hobden was on hand to parry substitute Baker’s low drive.

May tried his best to clinch the victory in injury time, but his ambitious free-kick went narrowly wide – before Hobden tipped Francis Mampolo’s effort over.

Yet for all the possession the Sports had and chances created, they could not find a winner, which – coupled with results elsewhere – meant relegation to step three.