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Makeshift Borough battle out goalless draw
A makeshift Eastbourne Borough team produced a spirited performance to emerge with a well deserved goalless draw against Bath City at Priory Lane this afternoon.
In a game dominated by the fierce wind, Borough had enough chances to have sneaked all three points.
As it was they were well content with a draw with eight of the squad missing through injuries or suspensions.
Nathan Crabb and Evan Archibald started as strikers with Matt Crabb and Crowborough striker Ross Treleavan coming on midway through the second half.
Borough dominated the first half with the wind behind them, but it was Bath who went closest to scoring when Aaron Ledgister's 20-yarder rocketed off the bar.
The 1,118 crowd were ready to cheer the opening goal when Nathan Crabb burst clear of the City defence in the 26th minute, but he was foiled by the foot of keeper Paul Evans. Archibald's follow-up shot was straight at the keeper.
One expected a backs-to-the-ball fight by Borough against the wind in the second half but surprisingly it was the home side who looked the most likely to score.
Archibald headed wide when Ballard looked to be in a better position to score from Paul Armstrong's cross and when Treleavan came on he saw a tremendous angled shot from the left tipped away by the keeper.
Evans also did well to keep out a fierce drive from Pat Harding as Bath seemed to run out of ideas with the wind behind them, continually getting themselves offside.
As it was the second goalless draw of the season between these two sides ensured the position remained unchanged at the top of Blue Square South with Lewes sharing the points at Basingstoke.
But the Rooks, one point ahead of Borough, have four games remaining, compared to Borough's two – at Newport and Braintree.
All thoughts at Priory Lane remain not on the remote chance of the title but getting into the best possible shape for the play-offs.
Eastbourne Town, fielding a weakened side after ensuring Ryman League Division One South safety, crashed 4-1 at Leatherhead.
In the County League (division one), Hailsham Town lost 2-1 at home to Arundel, a Paul Stevens own goal providing victory for the West Sussex side.Ryan Alexander scored the Hailsham goal.
In division two, Seaford's run of defeats extended to seven on the trot when they lost 1-0 at Storrington.
Read full reports of all these games in your Wednesday Gazette.
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Weather for Eastbourne
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -6 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
