United lose their grip in six-goal thriller (31.12.05)

THE Magpies took a share of the spoils in a topsy-turvy game at Priory Lane on Saturday, with both teams ruing missed opportunities to take all three points.
Eastbourne took the lead on 11 minutes, when Scott Ramsay rose unchallenged to head home a Danny Simmonds corner.
But United struck back almost immediately, when a move down the left set Lee Newman free and he made no mistake with a clinical finish to level the scores.
This only provided a temporary respite, however, and Scott Tarr had to be at his best to make a flying save from Anthony Storey in the 14th minute.
Borough re-took the lead on 25 minutes from the penalty spot, after a clumsy challenge by Dominic White on Ramsay; Storey comfortably dispatching the penalty.
Eastbourne revelled in the space afforded them in the United penalty area but spurned numerous opportunities to add to their tally before and after the break, with the Magpies in almost total disarray.
However, Eastbourne were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal as the game entered its thrilling final act.
A rare Maidenhead attack found Ryan Ashe in space on the right and he levelled the score with a typically audacious chip over the keeper from just inside the penalty area.
Minutes later it was United’s turn to go in front from the penalty spot thanks to a needless handball on the edge of the box by Phil Warner – Stephen Hughes firing in the spot-kick.
When Warner was sent off for a second bookable offence minutes later it seemed United had the game in the bag.
But the 10 men in red dug deep to rescue a point, and once again took advantage of slack defending with seven minutes left, when a ball from the right led to a Matt Smart shot being helped home by Dean Marney.
Borough almost completed the comeback in injury-time only to be denied by a great save by Tarr.

GROUP HUG: The Magpies take time to celebrate one of their three goals at Eastbourne on Saturday.