Eastbourne 4
(Alexander 5′, 61′, Grout 72′, Burgess 90+7′)
United 2
(Lo-Everton 14′, Searle o.g. 81′)
United went down to defeat on Saturday, as Eastbourne ran out winners in sussex.
Two strikes from George Alexander either side of Sonny Blu Lo-Everton’s leveller left The Gulls chasing the game, and after exchanging goals from Arthur Grout and Jamie Searle (o.g.), Matt Burgess’ injury-time clincher eventually sealed the result for the home side.
Boss Paul Wotton decided to make three changes to the side that drew 1-1 at home to Maidenhead last weekend, with Exeter City loanee Ed James given a debut alongside the returning Jordan Thomas and Kieran Wilson, with Ed Palmer, Dylan Morgan and Jordan Young missing out. Young was replaced on the bench by Sonny Fish after the conclusion of his loan spell at Folkestone.
The game was only five minutes old when the home side took the lead.
After being awarded a free-kick, the delivery into the box fell straight to Alexander, who powered a volley past James Hamon and into the net.
A strong wind was certainly making life hard for Wotton’s men, but thankfully parity was restored on 14 minutes.
After soaking up a fair amount of pressure, a swift counter upfield saw United catch the home side out at the back, with Lo-Everton dancing his way past a couple of defenders before sending a low shot into the far corner of the net to make it 1-1.
After make an awkward start to proceedings, United were now right in the game, with the action continuing to switch from one end to the other.
There were no further goals before the break though.
It was end-to-end stuff again after the restart, but it was The Sports who gained the advantage just past the hour mark.
A mix-up between James and Sam Dreyer left Alexander on-on-one with Hamon, and the Eastbourne striker made no mistake by rounding The Gulls’ No.1 to put his side back in front.
This time, Wotton’s side were unable to get back on level terms, and instead found themselves further behind on 72 minutes.
This time a ball into the box found Grout in space, and the Eastbourne man duly steered home his shot to double his side’s advantage.
With nine minutes left, a moment of fortune appeared to give Torquay hope, as home stopper Searle somehow bundled Lo-Everton’s corner into his own net, before another defensive lapse sealed United’s fate.
Desperate to break upfield in a bid to find a last-gasp leveller, Hamon’s ball to substitute Ed Palmer wasn’t quite what he was expecting, and with Burgess on hand sensing the opportunity, he made the most of the chance presented to him by firing into the unguarded net to make it 4-2.
A day to forget, but a swift chance to put it right on Tuesday at Worthing.
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 3. Jay Foulston, 5. Sam Dreyer (c), 6. Munashe Sundire (11. Dylan Morgan, 53′), 7. Louis Dennis (9. Cody Cooke, 64′), 18. Matt Worthington (27. Matt Jay, 64′), 20. Dan Hayfield, 22. Ed James ( 16. Ed Palmer, 75′), 23. Kieran Wilson (17. Sonny Fish, 64′), 24. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 26. Jordan Thomas
SUBS NOT USED: 19. Joe Hatch, 21. Adam Seedhouse-Evans (GK).
Yellow Card: Foulston 90+5′
EASTBOURNE: 1. Jamie Searle, 2. Dan Quick, 3. Isaac Pitblado, 6. Kai Corbett, 9. George Alexander, 12. Adam May, 15. Craig Eastmond, 20. Arthur Grout (Kingsley Anokye 90+5′), 22. Harvey Lintott (7. Archy Taylor, 90′), 25. Harry Phipps (c), 26. Matt Burgess.
SUBS NOT USED: 4. Lachlan Byrd, 5. Laiith Fairnie, 13. Alex Hobden (GK), 14. Will Armitage, 23. Tayt Trusty.
Yellow Card: Eastmond 48′
Attendance: 1,149
