Eastbourne Borough 1, Thurrock 0.

Allan Tait made a triumphant return for Eastbourne Borough, getting the winner in a 1-0 home success over Thurrock.

A fit-again Tait was preferred up front to Scott Ramsay but he had few chances to impress in a goalless first half.

The best chances fell to the visitors with Matt Bodkin and Craig Hughes both spurning opportunities.

Neither keeper was seriously tested until 36 minutes when Lee Hook did well to clutch Bodkin's header which was destined for the top corner.

Skipper Paul Armstrong started Borough's best move on the stroke of half-time but Tait was denied by Matt Payne as he was about to shoot.

Borough came out for the second half with more urgency and Armstrong missed a glorious chance, volleying over Matt Crabb's cross with an open goal beckoning.

A tremendous double save by David Blackmore prevented Borough going ahead in the 68th minute. First he punched away Matt Crabb's curling free-kick and then made an acrobatic save to stop Ben Austin from scoring.

Borough's pressure was rewarded in the 77th minute when Tait scored from an angle on the right after Matt Crabb's chip into the box.

Eastbourne Borough: Hook, Baker, Jenkins, Smart, Austin, Pullan, Lovett, Armstrong, Tait, Atkin, M.Crabb. Subs: N.Crabb, Ramsay, Harding, Budd, Lightwood.