EASTBOURNE Borough extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches with a richly deserved but hard fought victory over Cambridge City on Easter Monday.
Borough dominated the opening 30 minutes of the game with opportunities for Neil Jenkins, Andy Atkin, Allan Tait and Ben Austin.
City were not without their chances and several times in the opening 45, crosses from the lively Charlie Henry were not met by a visiting player when played across Lee Hook's goal.
City appeared to have weathered the Borough storm and began to put more pressure on the home defence but the back five held firm, with Marc Pullan and Dominic Douglas, an early sub for hamstring victim Neil Jenkins, winning the aerial battles.
Immediately following half-time Pat Harding cut a ball back to captain Paul Armstrong who opened the scoring for Eastbourne with a crisp finish from six yards.
Two minutes later, Austin crossed for Tait but the ball bobbled just as the former Crawley striker was due to shoot and the chance was gone.
On 53 minutes it looked as if City would equalise, but Lee Roach's shot from 20 yards was clawed round the post by the advancing Hook.
However just a few minutes later a long clearance from the back caught out the home defence and Michael Gash lobbed Hook for the equaliser.
Harding almost restored the lead on 63 minutes but his first time effort went just wide of the left hand post.
Tait crossed low and hard on 66 minutes only for Danny Naisbitt to gather, but on 70 minutes Tait was driven wide, turned and fed the ball inside to Harding who coolly altered the angle with a neat touch and fired low into the far corner for the decisive strike of the game.
Both sides chased further goals and Glenn Fuff could have equalised on 78 mins with a powerful header but all three points remained with the home side.
Harding strikes to sink City
Borough unbeaten in 13 after battling home victory
