Woodspring Stadium Saturday, August 22nd, 2015 k/o 15:00   National League South Attendance: 326         Weston-super-Mare 1-2 Eastbourne Borough
2015 /16

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A second-half recovery, and two inspired goal strikes, earned Eastbourne Borough the points at distant Weston Super Mare, and ensured a happy drive home. The Sports had fallen behind early in a sluggish first half, but after the break they looked transformed. “At half-time I just told them they looked like a team that had spent five hours on a coach,” chuckled boss Tommy Widdrington afterwards. “And that’s exactly what they had done! But football matches last 90 minutes and not forty-five. We never panicked, we played the better football and we came good in the end.” After their own dreadful start to the season, the home side attacked from the first whistle like fired-up underdogs in a big cup tie: attack, pace and a quite aggressive edge. Several fouls and two early yellow cards set the tone. Welcome to Weston… Without the injured Ryan Worrall, Widdrington gave a first start of the season in midfield to Adam Watts, who responded with a powerful display – dispelling many of the injury issues which must have driven the big man to distraction over the past year. Darren Lok was back on the bench with his hamstring now mended, and Elliott Romain led the line. But Weston snatched an 18th minute lead with the ultimate breakaway goal. Borough were caught too high up the pitch, and Dayle Grubb took full advantage with a sprint from inside his own half, keeping his head well and burying the ball low past Lewis Carey’s right hand. Two minutes later, Scott Wilson was only a stretched toe away from doubling the lead from a right wing cross, but almost immediately the young Weston striker made a less savoury mark, crunching into Kiran Khinda-John with a late challenge that earned a yellow card. The hobbling Khinda-John lasted only five more minutes before being replaced by Nat Pinney – although ironically the enforced substitution paid off well for the Sports. The reshuffle slotted Pinney into the number 10 role behind Romain, and the partnership was to work very sweetly. Half-time arrived with no equaliser in sight, but with no further damage, and after the break Borough looked fresher and more purposeful. Pinney on the move is like some majestic motor launch parting the waves, and on 52 minutes Weston had no answer when he furrowed through from central midfield and loosed a sublime ball to Romain, who had pulled away on the right of the area. The striker kept his head, drew the keeper and drilled a low shot inside the back post for 1-1. Borough were in control now, and Weston’s flagging defenders must have been distraught to see the perpetual-motion Romain replaced by a mercurial Darren Lok on the hour: a perfect substitution by Widdrington. And if Romain’s strike had been excellent, Lok actually bettered it within three minutes of coming on. Pinney again was the main man, shrugging off two challenges and slipping a little pass to Lok, who had instinctively found space. The Weston defenders might have been a row of mannequins, static and helpless as Darren’s turn-and-shot blistered into the corner. For those of a certain vintage, it was a Gerd Muller goal. If there was a criticism, then the Sports actually had four or five more chances to seal the win, with a mix of narrow squeaks and spectacular misses. But more important, this was a time to pull up the drawbridge, sit tight and deny the home side any path back into the game. There was actually a final flurry from Weston, not that they merited a point. But Carey – commanding throughout the game – held a low Plummer shot and then brilliantly pushed away a narrow-angle effort from Grubb to make the journey home a little bit less stressful. So that’s three wins on the bounce. Tommy’s team is still a work in progress, but they are getting better by the week, and that ability to manage a game and play as a unit is one of their hallmarks. No superstars, no inflated ideas: simply a modest, committed squad who are doing their club and their town credit. And week by week there are unsung heroes. Skipper Simpemba has played every minute of every game, and his leadership is unparalleled. The Duke of Wellington’s famous line fits the bill: “I don’t know what they do to the enemy, but by God, they frighten me.” Craig Stone has brought experience and a level head, and Sam Beale is nudging back towards his enterprising best. Nathan Collier scarcely gets a mention, but he is a quiet reliable midfield anchor. Ryan Worrall is possibly two years ahead of where you would expect an 18-year-old to be. Gavin McCallum has new batteries and a new focus this season and giving defenders nightmares. Miguel Baptista is a tantalising talent. And players like Evans and Haysman are giving everything for the cause. In a tough National South division, these players will stand toe to toe with any big spenders or big egos they may come up against… Weston: Purnell, Withey, Barnes, Keary, Ingram (Plummer 67), Fortune, Cane (Edge 74), Byrne, Wilson, Grubb, McClennan (Ash 83). Borough: Carey: Stone, Simpemba, Khinda-John (Pinney 28), Beale: Collier, Watts: McCallum (Baptista 80), Evans, Romain (Lok 59), Haysman. Unused subs: Ducatel, Nehemie. Referee: a very competent Andrew Laver Att: 326 MoM: Adam Watts – getting right back to his best