Eastbourne Borough (0) 1 Castro 59
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Korboa 8
Attendance: 1,029
Admission: £14
Mileage: 92/4,575
BYE BYE BORO
Tonbridge Angels duly delivered the final rights on Eastbourne Borough’s 23 year tenure in the National League South, but the Sussex side’s fate had largely been sealed for some weeks.
Steve King, it has to be said not exactly one of football’s more popular characters, was charged four weeks ago, not with the virtually impossible mission to rescue them but the beginning of the process of life and success in the Isthmian League.
Where has it all gone wrong at Priory Lane? Finishing third last season with a healthy budget supplied by owner Simon Leslie, full-time football leaving the expectations that next season would see them in the National League, certainly not the Isthmian.
The club was taken out of community ownership by Leslie in 2023 with the ambition to drive it forward towards the EFL, but three years on, the chairman is where the ire of supporters is mostly directed.
Popular manager Danny Bloor was axed within days of Leslie’s takeover to be replaced by Mark Beard and there have been a further four managers, three this season, since Beard.
Personally, I can’t revel in the demise of other clubs as did the younger element of the Angels' support, taking the fatalistic view of “there but for the grace of God (or Alan Dunne) goes I”.
The game was as frustrating as the journey down with half-an-hour stuck on the A21 as Bank Holiday traffic negotiated long-term roadworks at Hurst Green. For those in warmer climes that have been following my weather reports, the big coat was finally ditched on a sunny day, but a sea breeze with an edge meant a lighter version was still required!
With an initial air of two teams with nothing to lose, the game could have been at 2-2 after four minutes with both goalkeepers asked to make decent saves.
The frantic pace continued into the eighth minute when Ricky Korboa put the Angels in front, rifling his shot into the bottom corner after an interchange of passes between Alfie Pavey and Matt Warren opened up the opportunity.
The goal settled the game into a less frenetic pattern with the visitors largely dominating and having strong claims for a penalty as Korboa was bundled over in the box.
The home side were not without their chances as Freddie Carter headed over from a corner and Matt Rowley made an excellent block as Lee Angol was sent clear.
The second half saw the Angels lose their first half dominance and there was an inevitability that brought Eastbourne’s equaliser just prior to the hour. A through ball from Adam May opened up the Angels defence down the right and Quevin Castro finished past the advancing Rowley.
Both sides gave it a go in the remaining time and a winner might have come for either side with the Eastbourne goalkeeper Alex Hobden saving well from substitute Francis Mampolo on two occasions.
So, in what was a nothing on it game, ended with a predictable sharing of the points.
For Eastbourne Borough, a summer of rebuilding begins with them expected to be one of the big hitters in the Isthmian Premier, but to return is not a given, just ask the likes of Dartford, Billericay Town and Dulwich Hamlet.
Action picture: David Couldridge
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