DANNY BLOOR shone the spotlight on his unsung heroes as Eastbourne Borough ended their wait for a win.

A freak own goal and two fine finishes saw Borough beat Maidstone 3-0 as the Vanarama National League played on through the Covid-19 pandemic.

This first success in ten opens a three-point buffer over the drop zone.

How important that will be remains to be seen.

The league’s decision to play on has not met with unanimous approval from clubs, managers and players.

There is an FA meeting today which could see the situation change.

These remain uncertain and unsettling times but Borough were able to put concerns to one side as they enjoyed themselves on Saturday.

Chris Lewington diverted a seemingly harmless cross into his own net just before the break for the opening goal.

Jack Skinner and James Ferry added to the tally before the hour mark.

Borough played some good stuff once they got the ball down out of a strong, bitterly cold wind blowing straight down the pitch.

Bloor, enjoying a very special 50th birthday, was happy to take the credit for that.

He said: “I must pay a compliment to Sergio Torres, my assistant manager, and Scott Chalmers-Stevens, my coach. These are guys who are pivotal.

“I’m the manager. When results go badly, managers get the sack but, conversely, when you win games, people give me the plaudits.

“But it’s not just about me. It’s not I, it’s we. That’s the way I have always operated.”

Borough were at their best when they produced some good passing and movement working off Greg Luer up front.

But the opening goal owed a lot to the wind and dazzling sun as Lewington, who made several fine saves, flapped a hanging ball from Kiran Khinda-John into his own net.

The lead was doubled playing into the wind on 48 minutes.

Sam Corne produced a brilliant goal-line block to deny Luer but Skinner followed up to control and finish.

Maidstone were adamant he took the ball down with his arm but, after a consultation longer than many VAR checks, referee Jack Packman and his assistant allowed the goal to stand.

Ferry added a well-controlled first-time finish when the ball rebounded to him.

Ex-Wolves defender George Elokobi curled an effort against the bar and Franco Ravizzoli made two good saves as Borough, who defended well, saw the job through.

Bloor, nursing a well-earned post-match beer, said: “To celebrate your 50th birthday with a display like that to beat Maidstone 3-0 and to pick up three valuable points, I could not have asked for anything more.

“All we can do is worry about ourselves. We have nine league games remaining and I want us to win all nine.”

That – and the Sussex Senior Cup final against Albion – might yet be taken out of their hands.

But, for 90 minutes, Borough were able to put such worries to one side.