Windsor and Eton blown away on windswept afternoon at Eastbourne Borough

Other than a slightly disappointing attendance - just over 600 - this was a positive day for the club: the mood was bright, the genial visitors were made welcome and the football flowed. And the Lane is wearing a smile again.

Steve King has rebuilt and regenerated Borough, whose victory was their fourth on the bounce. Through injuries and the unavailability of loan striker Jack Stone, the manager was slightly short of bodies - but they looked full of goals from the start.

Josh Rees, immense as ever in midfield, took the armband and led by example, with Max Sheaf covering hard yards alongside him.

And the shape of the team becomes clearer and more settled match by match.

Lewis Carey has reclaimed the keeper's jersey as if he'd never been away. The centre-back pairing of Giles Phillips and Freddie Carter has a great understanding, while the marauding of full-backs Matt Hayden and Sam Oguntayo is giving the team a whole extra dimension.

Arthur Grout's perception, touch and movement are making him untameable in the No10 role. Wide players Kai Corbett and Darren McQueen would plague the visitors all afternoon, and there you have it: an Eastbourne Borough side to restore belief and bring the smiles back.

What about the opposition? Windsor and Eton, a division below Borough, were a neat, organised side with an intelligent game plan to contain Borough. Above all, they would need to control the pace of the action.

But the Sports ran this game from start to finish. Within two minutes, keeper Finley Purcell had denied Corbett with his feet after a swift left-to-right move.

A contrast of styles soon emerged, the visitors playing long and the Sports playing pass-and-move through midfield. Within ten minutes the home side had created at least four scoring chances, including a phenomenal McQueen strike which left the crossbar shuddering.

We sensed a goal and it arrived on 15 minutes. Sweet combination between McQueen and Hayden set up Grout for a lovely right-foot shot from the D, with just enough curl to find the top corner.

Within five minutes the lead was doubled. Ironically, the visitors pushed high into Borough's half, but the move was intercepted and McQueen raced from halfway, with defenders in his wake, to slide his shot inside the right-hand post.

Windsor survived a strong penalty appeal when Corbett went sprawling, and Eastbourne then won two corners, right and left. Gold Omotayo's header was only just wide and Grout charged down a clearance but the ricochet just cleared the left post.

Everything but score again? Yep, until ten minutes before the break, when from a free-kick on the right edge of the box Kai found Gold - who forced the ball home for 3-0 to huge home cheers.

Eastbourne had earned a remarkable ten corners to the visitors' one - and after that onslaught, the second half could only be a very slight anti-climax. Windsor and Eton, with the Channel gale now at their backs, steadied the ship and never gave up.

Possession and chances were about even, but the scoreline did not change. There was time for 20-minute contributions by the dynamic Terrell Egbri and the lightning T'yano Wilson - but not so many clear sights of goal.

In a final burst of energy and action, both goalmouths did survive a few chaotic moments, but the result had never been in serious doubt. And after a hugely enjoyable afternoon all round, the King's Men march on.

Never mind the niceties, feel the good-natured competition on a proper FA Cup afternoon. And this promising Borough season is right on course.