Eastbourne Dynamos moved closer to that Division 3 title with another ground out win against Battle Rangers. Dynamos enjoyed the lions share of possession and chances, but a laboured second half performance allowed Rangers back into the game.
Gary Taylor, with not many options available to him for swapping things around, was able to keep pretty much the same team that won at Magham Down on Monday evening. Christian Corder-Courtier handed the keepers gloves back to Martin Bell and moved back into defence.
Dynamos dominated the first half, closing down Battle every time they were on the ball. Shaun Peters and Corder-Courtier winning every ball in the air and keeping the home side in their half.
Michael Franklin and Dayle Courtier were having a brilliant game in the middle, full of fight and running.
Dynamos were getting sights of the Rangers goal, with Fletch going close with a nice ball over the top, but couldn't wrap his foot round it. Eastbourne had a succession of corners, and free kicks, which threatened, but couldn't force the goal.
Lewis Colegate got the reward for his early running and hard work. Fletcher nodded a long ball up field on, Neil Taylor then help the ball onto Colegate who raced through, beating the offside trap and calmly slotting past the keeper.
Eastbourne had the chance to make it two, Dean Pugh's free kick was parried away by the keeper, while Taylor's effort from inside the six-yard box was well blocked by the defender before being scrambled away.
Peters was again threatening, Darren Vine's throw was headed on by Fletcher, then Peter's tried helping it over the keeper with another header but it went inches over the bar.
Damien Mills was getting forward at every opportunity, but his best effort saw him drag his shot wide of the post.
With two minutes remaining of the half, Courtier neatly flicked the ball over the defence for Pugh to run onto. His pass into the dangerzone found it's way to Taylor who squeezed it just inside the post under pressure for his 26th goal of the season.
Pugh should have scored Eastbourne's third moments later when he managed to run into the Rangers area unchallenged, only for him to shoot over the bar.
The second half saw Dynamos take their foot off the pedal, and Battle had clearly come out after the break looking to get straight back into the game.
The game seemed to coast along with both sets of players looking tired, with maybe the heat getting to them.
Dynamos continued to create the better of the chances, with Franklin going close, while Taylor and Colegate threatened. Fletcher had the visitors best chance, he chased down the defender on the left, getting to the ball first before cutting in along the byline, but his final touch was a little heavy and allowed the keeper chance to get a hand to the ball.
Battle gave Eastbourne a warning sign when Dynamos failed to properly deal with a Rangers corner, Bell managed to get both hands to the ball before it was kicked out of his hands and bundled into the net. The referee rightly disallowed the goal.
Eastbourne didn't look as threatening from corners this half, and possible in the mindset that the game was won even with such a long time to go. This was costly as Battle looked to get at Eastbourne down the right. They managed to force a couple of free kicks from silly fouls by Dynamos, but Battle failed to test the keeper.
Battle then scored straight from a corner when the ball curled in over Bell's fingertips and over Pugh who was on the back post. The ball went in off the upright and set up a tense final 15 minutes for Eastbourne.
Eastbourne felt they should have had a couple of free kicks up the other end, but Dynamos managed to hold out with relative ease for another 3 points and continue their unbeaten league run.
The victory means that Dynamos only require 3 points to secure the title, but have an important Semi Final before then to deal with. Eastbourne should be please with their first half performance, but their second half one was poor and will need to be greatly improved if they are to make their first Cup Final.
