Abject, abysmal, awful covers a first half where we were behind in five minutes, two behind halfway through, three down just over ten minutes later and game over in the last minute of the half. Credit goes to the lads for making a fight of it in the second half to score the only goal making you wonder how the game might have gone with a first half like that.

Eastbourne United arrived with their sights set on making the play off places and were sharp from the off and in the first couple of minutes we were blocking shots in the box. Some relief came from a break down the left by Jimmy Williams that ended with a shot that lacked the power to trouble the keeper. Five minutes in and from a quick break Eastbourne won a corner from the left. The ball was delivered onto the penalty spot and headed home for the opening goal. Minutes later we were under pressure from a free kick but from a round of head tennis we were able to clear the ball. From there we had Carl Brown trying to get on the end of a ball into the box but the keeper got there first. On ten minutes Eastbourne were on a break down the left but Prince Aderogba was across to cover at the expense of a corner. They played the corner short resulting in an easy catch for Sammie Saward.

Just short of the quarter hour and from our free kick it required some good covering from Williams to cut off their long clearance. However we were opened again a minute later only to be saved by a wayward shot. With some good link up play down the left to find Brown, he shielded the ball well to then get a throw that was then cleared. On 20mins Conor Wilford did well to win the ball, turn and beat their player to make space for a ball forward. Brown won the ball and then fired in a brilliant shot that was going in under the bar only for a fine save to turn it over. Jason Stripp delivered the corner long and Wilford was on the end of it to win another corner. Nothing came of it. Then a minute later our defence was cut open by a long ball down the right, a cross to the far post and it was 2-0.

On the half hour Williams did a great bit of work in the corner to stop Eastbourne getting a corner. A couple of minutes later they did have a corner and Saward claimed the ball well under pressure. Then on 34mins from being camped around the edge of the Eastbourne box they won the ball, sent it long down field and it was put away for 3-0. A corner five minutes later went through our box without anyone getting a touch and behind for a goal kick. Inside the last five minutes and Kobi Asante had the ball on the edge of their box, holding on to it well to find Hamza Abubakari and then Brown but the ball was cleared. From a fair shoulder to shoulder challenge, the Eastbourne player went down like a sack of spuds only for the unimpressive referee to buy it. From the free kick Eastbourne won a corner and in the final minute it was a free header in the box for 4-0 and game over by half time as even Manchester United couldn't come back from there.

It required a great save from Saward two minutes into the second half to keep the deficit at four. A minute later we had free kick from the left cleared and only good work by Brown stopped Eastbourne breaking away. They had another couple of chances but could not hit the target and then from 55mins we grew into the game and were able to cut off the Eastbourne breaks. A good drive down the right by Williams won a corner but nothing came from it. A change on 57mins saw Asante replaced by Matt Cheeseman. He was soon into the action to win a challenge and give Brown a chance to break into the box only to be tackled. On 61mins the ball fell to Brown outside the box in space only to lean back and shoot high. That was his last action as he was replaced by Elliot Cannon shortly followed by Aderogba substituted due to injury by Cameron Sinclair making his first team debut. Into the last quarter of the game and Eastbourne had a shot from the left that drew a great save from Saward. Tyrone Gondoh did well on the wing to cover a break and then win a goal kick to end the break.

Another change on 77mins as Stripp was replaced by David Heaton. Five minutes later Sinclair was composed in defence to block and hold up Eastbourne in the box and see the ball cleared. On 84mins Abubakari fired in a good shot from outside the box that drew a good save for a corner on the left. The ball was initially cleared and then when it was put back in Heaton was on the end of it to direct his header into the bottom left corner for 4-1. With a couple of minutes to play, Eastbourne looked to have a chance to equalise only for their player to keep the ball and shoot wide when he had options to his left. Final minute and Cannon looked to get into the box but was dispossessed. Into added time and a high ball into out box was met by Saward under pressure with the loose ball heading goalwards only for Sinclair to clear off the line. From the corner Eastbourne think they have a fifth goal only to see the flag raised. Into a third added minute and from our free kick a mazy run down the length of the pitch by one of their substitutes is snuffed out on the edge of our box. From the resulting throw Eastbourne have a shot that it straight at Saward and the final whistle is blown.

Winning the second half restored some pride after a first half that saw our unbeaten record at Whyteleafe swept away. Eastbourne would have had an eye on goal difference as it may well be important for them but a good half time team talk and shape change brought a great improvement in our play and left you wondering where we would have been with a first half like that. Hopefully was can take that into the final game at Whyteleafe against Crowborough Athletic on Easter Monday. Having seen results go our way over the last couple of rounds Wick, Horsham YMCA and AFC Varndeanians all won and moved up the table to send us down to fifteenth. All three sides are now clear of the relegation battle with two games to spare. What had been six teams in the battle the penultimate round sees Loxwood, Little Common, Shoreham and Saltdean United still involved with Saltdean needing to win their final two games and Little Common to lose theirs to have any chance of a great escape.