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Boro secure hard-earned point
KAYNE McLaggon struck his first goal for Eastbourne Borough as they secured a deserved 1-1 draw at promotion-chasing Mansfield.
The Southampton loanee, playing only his second game for Boro', fired in after good work from Liam Enver-Marum shortly before half-time to give the visitors the lead.
But Mansfield drew level in the 67th minute when Paul Heckingbottom's free-kick was fortunately turned in off the body of Stags debutant Jon Challinor.
Boro' were without the injured Marc Pullan and suspended Neil Jenkins, but welcomed Darren Baker back to the heart of the defence while Dan Brown filled in at left-back. Matt Crabb returned to the left flank, with McLaggon operating down the right and fellow loanee Joe Benjamin up front alongside Enver-Marum.
They began brightly, with Paul Armstrong firing just over and Simon Weatherstone and Benjamin both testing home 'keeper Marriott.
Mansfield had more of the ball but the back four and 'keeper Danny Knowles repelled the Stags' raids and it was Boro' who looked more threatening going forward.
Their hard work was rewarded by Enver-Marum's strike, which threatened to inflict Mansfield's second home league defeat of the season.
Again, Mansfield, with winger Ryan Williams to the fore, streamed forward but couldn't find a way through while Boro' were quick to break, with Matt Crabb particularly prominent in the second half.
Boro' boss Garry Wilson took the bold, if surprising, decision to replace McLaggon early in the second half with James Fraser, but it did not disrupt Boro's rhythm.
However, Mansfield levelled with the deflected free-kick, while Blair Sturrock had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for a clear Henry-style handball.
Benjamin forced a low save from Marriott while the Boro' defence survived a late onslaught from Mansfield to secure the draw. Although Boro' move six points clear of the drop zone, results elsewhere mean they slip a place to 20th.
BOROUGH: Knowles, Austin, Baker, Elphick, Brown, McLaggon (Fraser 56), Weatherstone, Armstrong, Matt Crabb, Benjamin (Johnson 90), Enver-Marum (Atkin 90). Subs Not Used: Jordan, Taylor.
Attendance: 2,922 (23 away fans).
Eastbourne Town's revival continued with an impressive 2-0 win over Dulwich Hamlet at the Saffrons.
Scott McDonald grabbed his third goal in two games since signing from Hailsham just before the break, before Chris Dicker's free-kick doubled the advantage.
Russ Tanner made a couple of good stops to keep Hamlet at bay. The win lifts Town up to 18th in Ryman Division One South.
Eastbourne United needed a last-gasp James McKenzie winner to progress to the third round of the Sussex Senior Cup with an unconvincing win over second division East Preston at the Oval.
Steve Dallaway headed United into a seventh minute lead but Neil Reilly equalised for East Preston three minutes into the second half.
The visitors had the better of a low-quality encounter but McKenzie struck late on to the relief of boss Brian Dennis.
In the Sussex County League, Hailsham Town, under temporary boss Joe Stevens, crashed to a 3-1 home defeat to Chichester City United.
Full reports on all four games in Wednesday's Gazettes.
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Weather for Eastbourne
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
