After another wet and windy week the sun finally peeped through the clouds as I came to the Priory Lane Stadium, home of Eastbourne Borough FC of the National League South, for their home fixture against this year’s favourite non-league team, Maidstone United.

The Priory Lane ground was bathed in Spring sunshine, despite it having rained on my drive down to the coast. Eastbourne Borough’s ground boasts a 3G surface and a pitchside grandstand, as well as extensive covered standing, refreshment stands and a club shop. The ground capacity is 4150, with seating for 650, and to be fair with a decent crowd in, there was a good atmosphere.

Eastbourne Borough have struggled this season and with just seven games left are two points away from relegation rivals Dartford and four behind Truro in 19th place. Manager Adam Murray would have been hoping his side could get a win against a high flying Maidstone United team, to help keep their survival hopes alive.

Goals have been hard to come by for Eastbourne Borough this season and Decarrey Sheriff has top scored with 7 goals, supported by Moussa Diarra (3 goals) and Jack Paxman (2 goals). Attendances at Priory Lane have hovered around the 1100 mark this season, with the top attendance being the 1950 who came to watch the opening game against Hampton & Richmond in August 2023.

Maidstone United came into today’s game in fifth place and looking to grab Braintree’s place in the last of the automatic play-off semi-final spots. The Stones lost a little ground in the mad excitement of their legendary FA Cup run but have in the last few games put a run together which has ensured they stay focused on the push to regain their National League place. Manager George Elokobi has already achieved so much this season but would have expected his players to grab all three points today.

Matt Rush is the leading scorer for Maidstone United (11 goals), supported by Sam Corne (7 goals) although Levi Amantchi had clocked up 10 goals before he was sold earlier in the season to Bromley FC of the National League.

The game started with Maidstone United putting early pressure on the Eastbourne Borough defence. In the seventh minute this pressure realised results when Jephte Tanga was fouled in the penalty area. Sam Corne stepped up to put away the spot kick and send the away side into the lead.

The game changed when Eastbourne Borough’s Sam Beard was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card in the 26th minute. A quick reorganisation by manager Adam Murray saw the home side send on David Sesay to replace Alfie Bendle.

On 35 minutes, seemingly totally against the run of play, Eastbourne Borough were level. Pierce Bird took a throw in and when it was hit back to him, hit a beautiful shot on the half volley, past a shocked Covolan in the Maidstone goal.

The goal, unsurprisingly, revitalised Eastbourne Borough and on the stroke of half time a through ball almost set ex-Birmingham City striker, Matt Green free, when through on goal. However at the break the teams went in with the scores level at one all, with all still to play for.

The second half started with Maidstone United’s Faal missing a virtually open goal.

With 58 minutes gone Eastbourne Borough were down to nine men when the referee dismissed Bird after what he deemed to be a reckless challenge on Maidstone United’s Tanga.

In the 64th minute Matt Rush found himself in space as the advantage of the two men began to show, putting Maidstone 1-2 ahead with a clinical finish.

In the 85th minute Maidstone put the game beyond doubt when substitute Lamar Reynolds scored to make it 1-3.

In the 90th minute Lamar Reynolds scored his second with a 25 yard shot which flew past Harrison Foulkes in the Eastbourne Borough goal to make it 1-4.

A minute later Reynolds had a hat trick, when he converted a penalty to round off a fine afternoon for Maidstone United, making it 1-5.

The best crowd of the season, 2229, had seen a game which became a fine win for the Stones. However the Eastbourne Borough fans would be left wondering how much they would regret the dismissals today, which undoubtedly changed the game.