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Tooting came within an ace of taking part in the competition proper for the first time in thirty two years but paid the price for not playing until the final whistle.
If determination can be a factor in recovery from injury then Joe Vines would probably get over a broken leg in about a month and he duly reclaimed his place in the starting line up.
After the initial exchanges and settling of nerves it was the home side that shaded proceedings through the half as Borough struggled to put their
disappointing league form to one side for a day. With Matt York dominating at the back and Aaron Goode relishing the challenge back in
midfield Terrors established a solid platform from which to get the Parker/Vines show on the road.
Paul was the earliest beneficiary, running on to a through ball that Jordan reached first. Vines had clearly been targeted as a danger and it was a foul on him by Elphick just outside the box that gave Matt York the chance to fire home a low free kick off the keeper and a post in a carbon copy of his strike against Maidstone. Elphick was rather luckier ten minutes later
when he appeared to bundle Vines to the ground inside the area.
The first harsh lesson of the afternoon came shortly before the interval when on one closed down Crabb on the left edge of the penalty area. Clearly relishing the space he carefully picked his spot and delivered a clinical finish over Kings
into the far top corner.
Half Time: Terrors 1-1
Eastbourne Borough
Things changed dramatically after the break. In the opening minutes Jamie Byatt won a corner which
provided a shooting chance for Joe Vines that went wide of a post. However, for the next twenty minutes Eastbourne finally started to look like the senior side, creating a hatful of openings
and forcing Tooting to defend deeply.
Former Horsham striker Jamie Taylor missed an open goal when Dave King came out and failed to claim a ball on the edge of his area. Just on the hour and
there was an amazing escape when a shot crashed off the underside of the bar, but
failed to cross the line.
Midway through the
half and the tide again turned against the seasiders
when Byatt provided a headed chance for Paul Vines, smartly saved by Jordan. Aaron Goodes piledriver was charged down
shortly after but he came closer later in the half,
winning a corner after following up on a free lick
into the box. Home
confidence was high and ten minutes from time Parker
was unlucky with a header into the side netting after
Joe Vines had taken advantage of indecision in the
Borough back line. Six minutes on it was the head of
Paul Vines that met a Byatt cross to give Terrors the
lead and with a minute left on the clock Simon Parker
took full advantage as the visitors pushed for an
equaliser, breaking free on the half way line and
rounding Jordan for the third. Harsh
lessons two and three came after most of the small
band of traveling fans had vacated the terraces and
stoppage time was well underway. One came from the
right and the other from the left. Both were
simple and neither was defended. A heavy price
to pay after a great display, but there's a second
bite of the cherry and hopefully the lessons have been
learnt.
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