It must be said that last Saturday presented me with a bit of a dilemma. Our early exit from the FA Cup has been well documented, and it left a gaping hole in the diary of a Boro fan. A football free weekend was unthinkable and the decision was taken to pop along to Priory Lane and take in a spot of TV soccer and the 3rd XI at home. On walking into the clubhouse, it felt like a normal matchday with so many other lost souls present. On the television front little Paulton had their day in the spotlight, but Delia’s Canaries proved too strong.

So in blazing sunshine, the odds and sods drifted from the bar to the brick wall and settled down to watch a team in red do battle. Now, the Mid Sussex Premier league may not install unbridled excitement to some but when you are kicking your heels any game is better than nothing, and 45 others seemed to agree.

The Eastbourne A team and East Grinstead gave a good showing, Paul Bigsby bellowed in his own inimitable fashion, and the home lads ran out worthy 3-0 winners. Mick Syndercombe did a sterling job as makeshift ball boy on the far side, Dan “Fingers“ Ward made the teas, and Sir Len of the Lane was seen sitting on top of a log bollard, looking remarkably like a garden gnome. So the thirst for live football had been quenched.

Monday brought the news that Joe Benjamin had signed a loan deal and was to make his 1st team debut in the Sussex Senior Cup tie the following evening at Burgess Hill. I cannot say for certain but did this news really swell the coach travelling contingent by 50%? Well the bookings certainly flooded in on Monday afternoon!

For a few worrying minutes, it looked as if our journey over the border into West Sussex was in vain, as a swirling mist shrouded Leylands Park. Some stood shy of the turnstiles, not willing to part with their cash until we knew for sure it was game on!

The crowd was swelled by a very good turn out from Eastbourne and the match proceeded as the fog started to lift. There were some concerns shown when looking down to the far end and the goalmouth Borough were defending as all we could see was black shorts and socks running around the area. Danny Knowles in his green keeper's top blended in with the mist and the grass. (Now was it a scarf, or a roll neck top he was wearing under that shirt?) If you remember, I commented recently on the “curse of the officials” and the fact that men in black seem to suffer injuries when Eastbourne play... We all know that Liam is a big strong lad and on Tuesday evening, a poor assistant referee bore witness to this fact. With 6 foot 3 inches of striker bearing down on him, the man with the flag had nowhere to go and was promptly bowled over in an unceremonious heap on the touchline. There were laughs a plenty at first until we all spotted he wasn’t moving. Both physios ran and attended to the horizontal official and luckily the only thing damaged was his pride and his flag. The game resumed some seven minutes later after the referee had sourced a replacement flag. There were some calls from the home defence for offside decisions but the now recovered official kept his flag firmly at his side. After all, when you can see double, one of the defenders must be playing them onside!

The night drew to a close with “The Sports” claiming a 4-1 victory on the road to defending the cup they won last summer. Matty Smart treated his “Barmy Army” to an impromptu press up display; although he did show genuine concern the ground was not only wet but also muddy. Ray “The legend” Lee continued his rise as a cult figure with couple of “Ave its” and Boro were back to winning ways. Job done.

With the dust of Joe’s arrival barely settled, the news that we have yet another loanee on his way has fired up the faithful fans' imagination. Southampton FC have kindly lent us Kayne McLaggon, and with any luck we will get to witness his speed and skills this coming weekend when we host Salisbury. Could this be the catalyst to re-ignite our season? Time, as they say, will tell.