Eastbourne Borough end Welling United’s three-month unbeaten home run

BY MARK DOIG

Goals either side of half-time – combined with an outstanding display by goalkeeper Harrison Foulkes – helped Eastbourne Borough end Welling United’s three-month unbeaten home run.

Foulkes made a string of excellent saves as the full-time Sussex outfit pillaged the points. Mark Beard’s team picked up six cautions, and it should have been more, but they won’t care as they leapt over Welling in the National League South table.

Decarrey Sheriff headed wide for Eastbourne before Welling’s Antony Papadopoulos’ deflected shot dipped over. A tight offside decision went against the Wings when Tristan Abrahams netted before Foulkes gave the first indication that he would not be beaten. Papadopoulos cut in and shot low and Foulkes got down well to push it away. Jephte Tanga was first to the rebound but Foulkes was up quickly to make an excellent save.

Kain Adom then had a shot beaten out by Foulkes, and Tanga was again first to the loose ball, but his shot was blocked by Freddie Carter. Then a training ground routine almost paid dividends for Welling when Papadopoulos struck a low corner towards the near post, TJ Bramble flicked it back and Lachlan Byrd struck it first time towards the top corner only to see Foulkes get across and make a stunning one-handed save,

Failure to take their chances cost Welling dearly when they went behind three minutes before half time. Eastbourne won a corner, and a deep delivery was headed back across the goal by Brad Barry. Carter was unchallenged as he headed home.

Seven minutes after the break, the Sports scored again. Callum Kealy burst through and fired a low shot into the bottom corner.

Cameron Green drove in a low cross that Foulkes could only beat out. Again, Tanga was quickest to the rebound but, this time, he couldn’t hit the target. Tristan Abrahams was the next Welling player to find Foulkes immovable when he got down well to save from Welling’s leading scorer’s free kick.

Adam Roscrow was introduced as a substitute for his first game since getting injured on his debut at the start of September, and he partnered Abrahams up front. Welling again went close soon after. Tanga fired in a low cross that Byrd met with a first-time chance that flashed past the post.

Another Welling substitute, Enoch Muwonge, fired over after Foulkes had made a great block from his initial effort, then Green fizzed a shot just wide after his free-kick had come back to him off the defensive wall.

Dominic Odusanya drew another great save out of Foulkes, and even in injury time, the Eastbourne goalkeeper stood between Welling and a goal. First, he saved from Byrd before he made a stunning stop to deny Adam.

Results elsewhere didn’t go in Welling’s favour and they have a difficult trip at Bath City to navigate next Saturday before the derby double with Dartford over the festive season.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN