Eastbourne Dynamos made the short trip to Hastings to face Cinque Ports for a second time this season, looking to get revenge for their extra time League Cup defeat earlier in the season.

The Dynamos squad was depleted. Numerous injuries, illness and other commitments meant that Dynamos travelled with a bare eleven, no manager, who was ill, and no linesman until previous Manager Gary Taylor answered a call to help out.

Mark Likeman was recalled early in his recovery from a hamstring injury, Stephen Fletcher was called up to make his first appearance of the season, and Josh McDonald was signed on Tuesday night at training to help make up the numbers.

Martin Bell continued in goal, with Nick Webb playing in an unfamiliar left back roll, with Fletcher partnering Conor Clyne at the heart of defence, Damien Mills was on the right. McDonald started on the right of midfield, with Dean Pugh on the left, and Neil Taylor and Sean Corson making up the midfield. Likeman was paired with Lewis Colegate in attack.

Despite Dynamos lack of numbers and patched up team, they started the half brightly, and were soon causing their hosts lots of problems. Taylor and Corson worked immensely hard in midfield to close down players and win the ball, while the Dynamos defence looked solid considering the circumstances.

On the attack, it was the visitors who looked dangerous, with Colegate and Pugh using their pace to haul their team forward. And it was the visitors who took the lead after Likeman had a shot blocked by the defender, the referee adjudged him to have handled the ball in the area and pointed to the spot. A little harsh considering how close he was and his arms tucked into his chest. Taylor stepped up to dispatch the penalty cooly.

Pugh then raced down the wing and got round the defender before cutting the ball back, Likeman let the ball run through his legs to Taylor who was running onto the ball but couldn't get his shot away and Ports cleared their lines.

Dynamos extended their lead when neat play between Pugh, Likeman and Corson finished with Corson sliding in a perfectly weighted pass for Pugh to run onto. The defender was clearly trying to haul Pugh to the ground but the winger managed to stay on his feet and get to the ball first to slip it under the keeper.

As the home side pushed forward looking to get back into the game, Dynamos were happy to sit and soak up the pressure and hit them on the break. Bell saw a couple of shots go wide, while diving on another that threatened to sneak in, but otherwise he was fairly untroubled.

Dynamos then were in dreamland as they extended their lead. Colegate managed to control a high ball before the knocking it back for Likeman to hit on the half volley from 20 yards, it zipped past the keeper and into the net.

The visitors were passing the ball round neatly, playing some of their best football of the season. This culminated in Dynamos fourth goal. A brilliant team goal.

Colegate received the ball, and laid it out wide to Mills who slide the ball between two players to Pugh. His little flick diverted the ball into Colegate path who took a touch before picking out Likeman just inside the area, he took a touch to take it away from the defender before firing low past the keeper to cap off a brilliant move.

The one disappointment came from conceding right before the break. Eastbourne gave away a needless freekick on the right, which was floated into the box, Fletcher got his head to it, but could only help it on, and the Ports striker sneaked in to slot past Bell from close range.

The second half saw the home side enjoy far more possession, with Dynamos failing to continue their neat passing style of the first half. Eastbourne instead resulted to long balls to clear their lines and Ports pushed further forward. Bell was called into action to produce a series of saves to deny Cinque Ports the opportunity to close the gap.

Likeman and Colegate both saw efforts got wide before a neat one two between Pugh and Likeman finished in Pugh forcing a good save from the keeper.

Some great last minute tackles from Webb and Conor thwarted the home side, while Fletcher continued to be dominant in the air. Mills did well to guide McDonald through his first game while continuing his good work on the right.

Dynamos were shouting for a second penalty when Corson's shot was saved by the keeper, but as Pugh looked favourite to tap the loose ball over the line, his heals were clipped by the defender and the winger collapsed holding his ankle. The referee waved away Dynamos protests while Pugh continued the rest of the game trying to put weight on his right foot.

The home side nearly added insult to injury as they went down the other end, only to see their shot come back of the post and cleared away by Webb.

Bell then produced his best save of the game when Clyne lost the ball to the Cinque striker who raced through with only the keeper to beat, but Bell managed to block the ball before diving on it as it drifted out for a corner.

Dynamos were forced to defend a number of corners before Dynamos started to up their game as the final 10 minutes approached. Clyne was then forced to play the rest of the game with a hamstring injury after feeling it go clearing the ball.

Colegate then sealed the points after picking up the ball just inside the Ports half, then drifting across the pitch and towards goal before firing a looping shot from outside the area which the keeper could only watch as it sailed into the top left hand corner to cap off a brilliant result for Eastbourne.

Returning home with all the points and a performance to be proud of was not anything the players expected about before leaving for Hastings. Every player can be proud of their effort, and it'll be a long time before this game is forgotten.