Eastbourne Borough booked their chance to retain the Sussex Senior Cup with a narrow victory over Pagham in the semi-final at Leylands Park last night.

The Dr Martens Eastern Division leaders will face Crawley at Priory Lane on May 5 after a 78th-minute penalty by Daren Pearce killed off their County League opponents.

Wilson admits promotion is the priority for Borough this season but he is keen to repeat the success of last year when his side won the competition for the first time in their history.

He said: "It is a very important competition for us and we enjoyed ourselves last year.

"It is great to get into the final and is something to look forward to but we have to put that out of our minds now and concentrate on the league games coming up."

The game was the equivalent of a final for Pagham, who defended resolutely and continually frustrated their more illustrious opponents. Despite the defeat, manager Paul Gilbert was proud of his side.

He said: "We gave a good account of ourselves against quality opposition and I have no qualms about the result because they were the better side."

Borough did everything but score in the first half, but in Pagham they found a team unashamed to sit back and defend.

Mark Goodwin flashed a shot inches wide, fit-again Matt Crabb bounced a cross-shot against the top of the bar and Scott Ramsay fired into the side netting, all in the first 20 minutes.

Ramsay went close again just after the half-hour mark with a side-footed volley which dropped the wrong side of an upright.

When captain Pearce fired high over from 12 yards three minutes before half-time, some of the numerous Borough fans began to wonder whether it was going to be their night.

Pagham, and in particular keeper Wes Hallett, continued to frustrate Eastbourne after the re-start. Ramsay saw a left-foot effort well blocked by Hallett, then Stuart Tuck's powerful header was pushed brilliantly around the post by the keeper.

The County Leaguers had a chance on the hour mark when Adie Miles volleyed wide, but within minutes Eastbourne were back in control.

The left-hand post denied Ramsay from 25 yards, then Goodwin hammered a shot against the other upright after beating James Mandry for pace.

Pearce broke the deadlockafter Goodwin had been brought down by Matt Beard in the box.

Eastbourne Borough: Stark; Baker, Tuck, Smart, Price, Harris (sub Ducille 73), Westcott (sub Austin 87), Pearce, Ramsay, Crabb (sub Adams 79), Goodwin. Unused subs: Stevens, Lightwood.

Pagham: Hallett; Mandry, Beard, Forden, Akmenkalns (sub Snow 90), Hauxwell (sub Rayner 84), Joseph, MacIntosh, Miles, Hardwell, Haga-Hammond (sub Topley 55). Unused subs: Ward, Shaw.

Referee: Steve Tomlin (Westmeston).

Attendance: 340.