Garry Wilson exploited Hastings' FA Cup hangover to get the better of his old club and fuel Borough's own silverware ambitions.

Wilson, who lives in Hastings and used to manage his home-town team before his departure, masterminded a comfortable victory at the Pilot Field to guide Borough into the third round of the FA Trophy for the second successive year.

Hastings are now without a win in six matches and are desperately short of form and confidence following their exit from the first round of the FA Cup at Stevenage last month.

Borough ruthlessly exploited Hastings' vulnerability to become the only Dr Martens eastern division side to reach the next round.

The hosts, who are a division higher, were without several players due to injuries and suspensions and Wilson's charges wasted no time cashing in.

Borough opted for a cautious 4-5-1 formation to pressurise Hastings in the middle of the pitch but they still carved out the better chances with Scott Ramsay doing well upfront as the lone attacker.

Former St Leonards player Andy Ducille opened the scoring in the ninth minute from Matt Smart's pass and Ramsay secured victory 12 minutes from time with a penalty following Tony Burt's shove on the ex-Albion man.

Wilson was delighted with victory on his old stomping ground after admitting he would have been happy with a draw before the game.

He said: "I told the lads if we could get in front there would be little they could do to change it. Hastings are missing a lot of players at the moment and we were pretty comfortable right through.

"I always felt we could have stepped it up again if necessary.

"We maybe got Hastings at the right time. They are on a little bit of a downer and sometimes when you get knocked out of the FA Cup it can have that affect on you.

"We are going along quite nicely though and I just hope we get a Conference club at home in the next round."

Hastings, without first choice strikers Ellis Remy and Landry Zahana-Oni, offered little in attack, although defender Stuart Playford was unlucky when his point-blank effort was blocked by Paul Stark.

Ducille and John Westcott missed glorious opportunities after the break to wrap up the win before Ramsay netted his 14th of the season.

Ducille, 24, said: "We did a bit of finishing practice at training on Thursday and it seems to have paid off."

Ducille has finally established himself in the Eastbourne team this term after being a perennial substitute last season.

His goal was his third in 21 games this season and the tall frontrunner has played a big role in Borough's impressive run of one defeat in the last 12 matches.

Ducille said: "We have held our own against most sides this season.

"Dorchester are the only team to have outplayed us. If we can carry our run on, I don't see any reason why we cannot get promoted."

Hastings are in freefall however, and have scored just once in the last six games.

Astonishingly, striker Chris Honey is yet to score in 24 appearances this term and poor discipline is threatening to undermine their promising start to life in the premier division.

Paul Ruddy became United's sixth red card victim this season on Saturday for two bookable offences which resulted in his dismissal in the 68th minute.

And with Adam Flanagan and Landry Zahana-Oni both serving bans for straight reds at Stevenage, manager George Wakeling's selection problems will continue into the New Year.

The club have also been stunned to hear volatile midfielder Duncan McArthur has been hit with a six-match ban by the FA starting from December 14 for his poor disciplinary record.

McArthur was booked again on Saturday and Wakeling will have rectify the problem permanently if he is to avoid undoing a lot of his hard work.

Just over a month ago, Hastings were the toast of non-League football in Sussex following their superb 5-0 at Kettering which booked a place in the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their 108-year history.

But is has been downhill all the way since and Wakeling knows he has problems.

He said: "We can't buy a goal. Even in the second half when we woke up the ball would not go in. We had two or three chances but for some reason they are not going in."

Hastings: King, Yates, Hegley, Osborne, Burt, Playford, Ruddy, McArthur, Webb (A. Olorunda 69), Simmonds, Honey (Body 76). Subs not used: T. Olorunda, Cornwall, Brown.

Eastbourne: Stark, Baker, Tuck (Stevens 87), Smart (Goodwin 85), Price, Austin, Westcott, Pearce, Ramsay, Crabb (Adams 81), Ducille. Subs not used: Morgan, Lightwood.

Referee: Frank Meilack. Attendance: 906. Man-of-the-match: Andy Ducille.