The last home game of the season for Eastbourne Dynamos saw rivals The Red Lion as the visitors, with the two teams fighting it out in fourth and fifth place. Red Lion still have a number of games in hand, while Dynamos finish their season next week when they visit Battle Rangers.

Manager Steve Newson had a strong squad to pick from, compared with the last time these two teams met. Mark Goodwin was back in the team following his broken foot, while Stephen Fletcher missed the reverse fixture.

Both teams went out to attack from the first whistle and exert their authority on the game, but while Red Lion possibly had more of the ball early on, it was Dynamos who looked more threatening when they had it.

Dean Pugh and Goodwin were a real hand full with their pace down the wings, while Fletcher and Alex Speirs are starting to prove they may be the midfield combination the Dynamos have been looking for all season.

Richard Payne settled in unusual surroundings at left back, while Simon Burke looked to prove why he had been moved into the centre with Glenn Taylor. Darren Vine was his usual rock solid self at right back.

Neil Taylor and Jamie Drummond looked to get on the end of any ball that came their way, although it did come in at every angle and they were not given a lot of time on the ball.

Pugh had the early chance after slipping through two defenders, but he dragged his shot wide. Red Lion were looking to get their front men on the ball more often, and they looked more dangerous when they did.

Pugh and Speirs both had half chances before Pugh put the hosts into the lead. Neil Taylor angled a pass left near the middle of the park, and Pugh managed to get the luck of the bounce when avoiding a challenge from the defender. Pugh race goal wards with space in front of him, he shot low across the keeper and into the net for a good breakaway goal from Eastbourne.

Red Lion nearly equalised straight away. They managed to get round the back of Eastbourne, then their winger cut the ball back but the midfielder had two defenders and Martin Bell in his way, and Bell made a great save to keep their lead intact.

Eastbourne doubled their lead following a free kick. Neil Taylor played a brilliant ball for Speirs to race onto, but right on the edge of the area he had his feet taken from under him. From the resulting free kick, Taylor nudged it wide for Fletcher to rifle goal wards, it took a big deflection to help it wrong foot the keeper and go into the far corner.

Red Lion looked to get a goal back quick and keep them selves in the game, but for all their pressure they never really tested Bell in the Eastbourne goal.

The second half Dynamos again create the better of the early chances, with the Red Lion defence standing still for an offside but there was no whistle and the visitors had to thank their keeper for a brilliant save from Drummond when it looked like Dynamos were going to grab a third.

The keeper again came to the rescue with another save, this time from Speirs, whose shot was parried wide.

As Dynamos lost a bit of shape with Pugh and Speirs both departing because of injury, Lion pressed further forward, and really should have scored with some of the chances they had. But luck and some last ditch defending kept them out.

Lion got the goal they were looking for with about 20 minutes left to play on the clock. A high ball into the area from the right, when the player shouldn't have been given time to turn, was not dealt with by the keeper or defenders and the Lion player rose highest to head the ball into the empty net.

The visitors sense they could get something from this game and pushed all the way. Dynamos had their chances to wrap up the game. Lloyd Taylor's pass was over hit, but the bounce wrong footed the keeper who had to tip the ball over the bar.

Neil Taylor had a chance from the left after cutting inside, but the keeper saved well to keep him out.

The rest of Dynamos attacking play disappeared with not being able to find that final ball, or not being able to get their shot away.

Red Lion had two great chances to equalise, their winger danced passed the Dynamos defence and the keeper, but he had been forced to wide and didn't get enough on his shot and it rolled harmlessly wide when it looked like he was just going to tap it in.

Hearts were in mouths again in the final few minutes, when a free kick was awarded on the edge of the Dynamos area. Eastbourne failed to clear, and Lion had two attempts to get the ball goal wards, the second being headed off the line by Lewis Colegate.

The final whistle went and Eastbourne had managed to hold on to secure their first league victory against Red Lion. Dynamos now go above them in the league, and into third after Beulah lost as well.