Eastbourne Borough boss Tommy Widdrington wants to see how his players react to their first defeat of the season.

The early season Conference south leaders suffered a 5-2 reverse at new table toppers Boreham Wood on Monday.

The scoreline does not tell the full story as Borough striker Richard Pacquette was sent off before half-time yet the visitors still had much the better of the second half.

Widdrington’s side return to action at home to Hemel Hempstead today and the Borough boss has warned there will be fluctuating fortunes this season.

He said: “A bit like the line on a life-support machine, if it were flat you would be dead.

“You will always have ups and downs. When you have had a down, it is about how you react.

“We have also had to handle being the side everybody wants to beat so far.

“We need to get back to what we were doing as quickly as possible. The league games are more spread out now. Until the end of October we will play the same amount of league games we have played already. The fact we have points on the board is important.”

Widdrington is still assessing options in his squad and the possibility of new signings.

But he added: “If you don’t do anything in football, you go backwards. I’m very mindful of the start we have had and the boys who have got that start for us.”

Marvin Hamilton, who is on non-contract terms, has been told by Widdrington he is no longer on trial after doing well in the opening weeks of the season since rejoining in the summer.

Hamilton serves a one-match ban today. Fellow full-back Kiran Khinda-John is nearing a return to action following an ankle injury which has kept him out for three games.