Eastbourne 2nd X1 – 2
Old Bordenian 2nd X1 - 4
The Old Bordenian 2nd X1 ensured a second successive away win in Sussex with a patchy but determined display against an Eastbourne side that never offered sufficient threat up front and could not cope with the speed of the Old Boys’ attacks.
Despite changes from last week’s line-up, and a late arrival at the game, the Old Boys spread the play and retained possession well from the start on a very slow pitch. It didn’t take long for this dominance to pay off, when the home 'keeper could not deal with the pace and direction of Rob Sage’s corner strike, and this was followed after 15 minutes with a second goal as Ricky Archer swept the ball in to the Eastbourne “D” for Ricky Dale to deflect in expertly. The Old Boys consolidated this lead without the next goal that would have probably decided the match at this early stage, the 'keeper saving well from Dale and Matt Roche. Just before half-time, a mix-up in the Old Boys defence gave the home side a lifeline when Jez Scholfield and Archer contrived to turn a weak shot past their bemused keeper, Andy Bond. This encouraged the home side, and Bond and skipper Dave Elgar had to block shots to maintain the Old Boys lead by the break.
In the second half, Eastbourne came out strongly, but Jack Bayford and Dale looked dangerous on the break and it was no surprise when a flowing move leading to a short corner resulted in another clinical strike from Sage to restore the two goal margin. The home 'keeper then made an unbelievable save from Dale’s goal-bound strike and with further shots from Rob Lamb and Bayford it seemed only a matter of time before the Old Boys were out of sight. The home side struck back, however, when Elgar deflected a pass over the defence and a mis-hit shot wrong-footed Bond. This was the warning the Old Boys needed and they broke out of a period of ineffective defending with a well-worked goal slotted home superbly by Bayford.
The 2nds entertain Old Williamsonians 2nds next week at Borden Grammar School.