Eastbourne Dynamos returned to action this week at the Rec against Battle Rangers. Dynamos last played Rangers on the opening day of the season when Dynamos ran out 5-0 winners.

A much changed team from the one that played then lined up this week as Eastbourne faced a shortage of players, and some last minute signings were needed.

Gary King came in at right back for his first appearance of the season, while Shaun Peters made his debut in midfield, his only other appearance being a pre season friendly. Dave Ingrams was the other new signing, starting from the bench. Jamie Drummond returned to the side following his 5-week holiday.

The home side enjoyed the better of the opening few minutes as they used the wind to their advantage to keep Rangers penned in their own half.

Dynamos soon took the lead with a somewhat fortuitous goal. First the Battle defender went to clear the ball facing his own goal, only to hit it high into the air in which the keeper claimed the loose ball. The referee then awarded a free kick on the edge of the six-yard box for a back pass. Dean Pugh teed up Mark Likeman who smashed the ball goal wards. The ball went through a huge gap in the side netting which allowed the ball to finish in the back of the net. The referee had the best view of anyone and awarded a goal to Dynamos.

Battle Rangers protested the award of the goal but the referee wasn't changing his mind.

The furthest Battle got to Martin Bell's got was a few balls over the top for their striker to chase and a couple of corners. But other than that it was Eastbourne that looked the most likely to score.

Dean Pugh went close when Lloyd Taylor's square ball went past keeper and defenders and found Pugh at the back post, but his effort went wide. Stephen Fletcher also went close, but either found a keeper or a defender in the way of his shot.

Shaun Peters nearly scored on his debut, but headed inches over following Taylor's corner.

Dynamos will feel they should have been further ahead at half time and would now have to play into the wind. Battle enjoyed their best spell in the early stages of the second half when they managed to keep Eastbourne in their own half. But the home side's defence looked strong and managed to clean up the lose ball's. Even Martin Bell came out his area to do some defending if he felt Battle where too close.

As Dynamos got used to playing into the wind, they managed to create some chances. The game in the second half become more end to end stuff than the first, but it was still Eastbourne that looked the most likely to score.

Mark Likeman got his second goal of the game after Eastbourne had kept the ball in the visitors half. Dean Pugh found Likeman in the middle of the park, and he had time to pick his spot as he directed the ball into the bottom right hand corner for a brilliant goal from outside the area.

Dynamos nearly added a third after good work down the right ended with Lloyd Taylor having the ball at his feet, inside the six yard box with only the keeper to beat, but his radar was just off as he put just wide and over.

Battle still hadn't given up, and where pushing forward and hassling as much as they had done in the first minute. The left back came closes to scoring when his effort from the edge of the area went just over the bar. Their midfielder also connected with corner, but didn't get enough on it to take it past Bell.

The third goal came following a bit of a goalmouth scramble in injury time. A crowd of players hacked away at the ball after a Rangers player had tried to hold it between his legs, but the ball was eventually lose and Dave Moran capped of a good performance with a goal as he reacted first to blast it past the keeper for his first ever goal for Dynamos.

The Battle player had picked up and injury in the build up to the goal, and had nasty stud marks down his arm where he had been on the floor in the area.

Battle had a shot from the kick off which was going wide, Dynamos kept hold of the ball long enough for the ref to blow his whistle for full time.

Dynamos hadn't played their best football of the season, but you can't complain with a 3-0 win when your side's under strength. The players that did play, shown that hopefully now the club has a bit more strength in depth, and can continue that until the end of the season, and hopefully into the next.