Eastbourne Borough's reward for a relentless seven weeks

Not that they are complaining. In truth, and in contrast to the Sports “elite” level, there are huge numbers of amateur sportsmen and women still missing their fixtures - and hordes of youngsters who would give most of their pocket money to be back to their matches and coaching in youth football, rugby and a whole clutch of other sports. Borough are the lucky ones.

“We’ve had a great run since the start of October – thirteen competitive games including our trip to Oxford City this weekend. But it’s been Tuesday-Saturday relentlessly. All the lads have put in the hard miles and they are giving everything for the cause.

“So next week we actually have no midweek fixture – and a Tuesday night off! I’ll need to padlock the gates at the ground to force them to take a breather!. It’s only a brief respite and they’ll all be back in next Thursday ahead of our St Albans fixture.”

Eastbourne Borough claim their 'best point of the season' at Tonbridge

Bloor was brimming with praise after watching his side take a hard-earned point at Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday night. “It’s without a shadow of a doubt the best point we have taken all season.

"To come here without Charlie Walker and Chris Whelpdale, and with two or three others carrying knocks and strains – and to come back when at 2-0 down we looked dead and buried, it was magnificent. They don’t know when they’re beaten, this group of players, and I couldn’t be prouder of their efforts this evening.”

Bloor is working with a relatively small squad, and so far, ironically, that has proved to be a part of the team’s success.

A settled side, and players slotting into roles, is a great formula for success.

The team is terrifically strongly bonded, and there is no doubt that Danny has engendered a fresh spirit - and a commitment to the club which may have been missing in previous seasons.

One major bonus has been the input from the QPR loan pair of Kai Innocent and Charley Kendall.

They made their mark emphatically on their very first appearance, hammering home the penalties which steered Borough past Dorking in the FA Cup.

Full-back Innocent earned a Man of the Match accolade against Braintree, and Kendall has hit crucial goals in each of the last two games.

The 20-year-olds are close to completing their second month on loan, but the possibility of a third month may well be on Bloor’s agenda when he next speaks with old Albion pal Chris Ramsey, who oversees the Under-23s at Loftus Road.

Meanwhile, the Sports squad had better enjoy their night off, for as December looms, the fixtures will again come thick and fast.

The away trip to Dulwich Hamlet, previously postponed because of an FA Cup clash, has been rescheduled for Tuesday December 8th.

But an intriguing home fixture with Steve King’s pace-setters Dartford might well (suject to National League permission) be moved from Tuesday 1st to Saturday 5th – originally an FA Trophy date, but that competition is still running behind schedule.

Now then, calendar-watchers should note: that new date falls just after, instead of within, the lock-down period. Is there a hope, just a faint hope, that restrictions might be eased, and real live spectators allowed in? Let’s all dare to dream….

For match reports, see online at eastbourneherald.co.uk