Match Preview

When: 16th March 2019
Where: Bulpit Lane, RG17 OAY
K.O 3PM
After last weekends missed opportunity at Weston, Hungerford will be hoping to continue their unbeaten March against relegation threatened Eastbourne Borough. Eastbourne are more than likely going to survive and a win at Bulpit Lane could almost secure that status. However Hungerford are a competitive outfit on their home patch and a win could themselves drag back the hope of safety, depending on other results. Only 3 points behind Gloucester and 2 points behind East Thurrock the relegation battle could get interesting if the latter and the former were too loose on Saturday and Town were to beat the Borough.

Form guide- The Sports have drawn there last two games, 1-1 versus Chelmsford and a goalless draw against Hampton and Richmond. Similarly the Crusaders have also drawn there last two games against Woking and Weston Super-Mare which followed up two losses against Chippenham and Welling.

Team news- Borough still have goalkeeper Sam Howes suspended and key midfielder Sergio Torres out injured. With strikers Charlie Walker and Llyod Dawes also out manager Marc McGhee decided to sign Australian striker Josh Bingham last week. The hosts have been dealt a blow with winger Tom Anderson returning to parent club Birmingham City respectively. Mike Jones and Rhys Kavanagh are back after missing last weekend’s match. Fellow midfielder Dan Bailey should be fight enough for the bench after training Thursday night and Cameron Hargreaves returns to the squad after completing a three game ban. Ian Herring has also completed the loan signing of Bristol Rovers forward Lewis Leigh-Gillchrist

Star man- New signing Josh Bingham brings a physical presence up front for the Sports. Being 6 foot 3 also means the striker will cause problems from set pieces as he searches for his first league goal. Crusaders midfielder Alfy Whittingham comfortably took the man of the match award last weekend as, despite missing one late chance to win the game, he took the game by the scruff of the neck and caused Weston problems with his sheer energy and determination.

Head to head- The visitors are undefeated in five national league south games against the Berkshire based side. They won the reverse fixture earlier on this season 3-1. Last season they comfortably won 4-1 at home after edging out Hungerford by one goal at the Bulpit. In 2016/17 now manager Ian Herring scored a late equaliser to salvage a 2-2 draw on the south coast gaining late revenge for the two-nil loss earlier in the campaign.