Hampton & Richmond 0 Eastbourne Borough 2 (R)

7:30pm Thursday 8th May 2008

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Blue Square South play-off final

Hampton & Richmond's promotion dream died when they paid the price for failing to take their chances and fell to two late goals against Eastbourne Borough.The Beavers constantly looked dangerous from set-pieces but could not apply the finishing touch.They had strong shouts for a penalty early in the second half when Lawrence Yaku looked poise to strike, but the ball was scrambled out for a corner, seemingly by an Eastbourne arm.Ryan Lake then hit a stinging drive that Borough keeper Lee Hook turned onto the post.But Hampton's profligacy was punished as Eastbourne took advantage of a tiring Beavers defence with two goals in the final 10 minutes to end Alan Devonshire's Blue Square Premier aspirations.It was goalless at half-time but Hampton had the better chances.Their first opening came on 12 minutes when Orlando Jeffrey powered a header goalwards from a Ryan Lake corner only to see it headed off the line by Darren Budd with the keeper beaten.

Ian Hodges spurned another opening on 21 minutes when after Lawrence Yaku miscontrolled he blazed wide from 12 yards.

Another Lake corner led to Hampton being inches from going ahead on 29 minutes when the ball fell to Yaku at the back post but he dragged his shot just wide.

Eastbourne, while having a lot of possession, did little to trouble Matt Lovett in the Hampton goal until a stretching Andy Atkin volleyed a Neil Jenkins cross narrowly wide on 35 minutes.

Goalless at half-time but Hampton should be ahead.

Hampton should have had a penalty on 54 minutes when Yaku worked an opening only to see the ball scrambled clear seemingly by an Eastbourne arm.

Ryan Lake thought he had scored on 77 minutes with a long-range drive but a lunging Hook tipped the ball onto the post.There was agony for the Beavers on 84 minutes though when Andy Atkins' 20-yard drive struck the bar and the rebound fell to substitute Nathan Crabb who tapped into the open net.With the Beavers pressing in stoppage time gaps appeared at the back and Paul Armstrong raced onto a long clearance and made no mistake.