WORTHING Football Club lost their Sussex Senior Cup third-round tie 2-0 at home to Conference side Eastbourne Borough on Tuesday (November 25).
Rebels had more of the chances but Borough, who play three divisions above Worthing, were more clinical in front of goal.
After a quiet opening, Rebels created an excellent opening on 15 minutes. Richard Greenfield ran from his own half down the r
ight-wing and laid the ball inside, which Mickey Demetriou dummied to leave Jamie Brotherton tbrough on goal.
Brotherton raced clear but his low left-foot shot from 18 yards was comfortably saved by Eastbourne keeper Lee Hook.
Three minutes later, Borough went ahead. Rebels captain Ben Andrews failed to cut out Simon Wormull's cross and Andy Atkin half-volleyed home from 15 yards for Eastbourne's first goal for more than 400 minutes.
From then on, it was Rebels who were the more likely to score before half-time.
Chris O'Flaherty had a low 25-yard drive saved on 25 minutes before Jamie Brotherton's header from Demetriou's cross on 31 minutes clipped the top of the bar.
Five minutes later, Rebels had a golden chance to equalise. Demetriou went through one-on-one but his low shot was stopped by Hook's legs.
Rebels were almost gifted an equaliser six minutes after half-time when Hook dropped a cross and Andy Alexander, caught by surprise, was unable to react in time to turn the ball home.
Eastbourne sealed their passage into the next round with 20 minutes left, when two of their substitutes, who had been on the pitch for only two minutes, combined. Matt Crabb crossed from the left and Jay Lovett fired into the roof of the net at the back post.
Worthing keeper Alan Mansfield made an excellent save to tip Jenkins' effort around the post two minutes later, and that was the last of the goalmouth action as Borough comfortably held on.
WORTHING: Mansfield; Axten, Woodburn, Alexander, Andrews; Greenfield, Akehurst, Kirkwood, O'Flaherty; Brotherton, Demetriou. Subs: Pulling, Mitchell (Greenfield, Brotherton 72), Farmer (Akehurst 80), Benn.
EASTBOURNE BOROUGH: Hook; Austin, Pullan, Baker, Jenkins; Wormull, Brown, Budd, Harding; Tait, Atkin. Subs: Crabb, Lovett (Harding, Wormull 67), Johnson (Budd 83), Harkin, Winterton. Att: 182.
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