Eastbourne Borough 3, Eastleigh 2.

Scott Ramsay scored twice to put Eastbourne Borough top of the table.

Andy Atkin was also on target as Borough leapfrogged Lewes and opened up a two-point gap at the top of Blue Square south.

But they had to survive a storming comeback from play-off hopefuls Eastleigh which produced a nerve-wrenching finale for Garry Wilson's men.

Skipper Paul Armstrong was delighted his side had regained pole position for the first time since November.

He said: "It feels brilliant to be top. It's been great to have two Sussex sides battling it out for the title.

"We've got a long way to go but if we can keep going and keep producing then we could have a chance of going up although there is a long way to go."

Wilson added: "I'm not getting carried away. We've still got a third of the season to go and anything can happen.

"It was an entertaining game and we had to withstand a real barrage. They have a lot of pride and when we went 3-0 up they were hurt so we expected a reaction."

Borough assistant manager Nick Greenwood warned the Priory Lane faithful not to expect a goalfest - even though the hosts had netted 17 goals in their previous four matches.

Eastleigh arrived with a reputation as a mean machine, having conceded just three goals in their last five games, but it took a rampant Borough just 26 minutes to double that tally.

Ramsay put the home side in front after just three minutes when he caught the Eastleigh defence square from a long punt and rifled home at the second attempt after visiting goalkeeper David Wilkinson had blocked his first effort.

Atkin doubled Borough's advantage in the 21st minute. The prolific striker met a near-post cross from Pat Harding from the right with a firm header that exploded beyond Wilkinson.

It was Atkin's 23rd goal of the season but it seemed that front running partner Ramsay did not want to remain in his shadow.

The former Albion striker put Borough 3-0 up with his fifth goal in three games on 26 minutes. A cross from Neil Jenkins was headed across goal by Atkin for Ramsay to head past Wilkinson with the Eastleigh defence having gone AWOL It was inevitable that Borough were unable to maintain such positive momentum and they got a little ragged before the interval.

Jenkins almost gifted a goal to Warren McBean and Eastleigh reduced the arrears on 33 minutes when McBean caught out the Borough rearguard with a late run to the near post to convert a low cross from Mark Marshall.

Ramsay should have wrapped up the points just three minutes into the restart. He latched on to a backpass from Warren Goodhind but instead of rounding Wilkinson to complete a hat-trick he allowed the keeper to grab the ball.

It seemed as if Borough might rue that miss as Eastleigh battled back.

The visitors' physical approach riled home fans and a series of fouls flattened Borough players resulting in bookings for Jamie Brown and Goodhind.

Brown was then lucky to escape red with a late tackle on Harding.

It seemed the Eastleigh game plan might work with Borough looking to be ruffled and when Luke Byles reduced the arrears on 65 minutes there was due cause for concern that victory might slip from Borough's grasp.

Atkin came close to his second goal when Wilkinson saved his close range shot with his foot late on to leave Borough nerves still jangling.

Eastbourne Borough: Hook, Baker, Jenkins, Budd (sub Kember 73), Lovett, Pullan, Harding, Armstrong, Atkin, Ramsay (sub N.Crabb 77), M.Crabb (sub Ballard 80). Subs not used: Wilde, Barton.

Eastleigh: Wilkinson, Harris, Everitt, Simpson (sub Adeniyi 56), Goodhind, Byles, Rivere, Brown (sub Hann 61), Sales, McBean (sub Piper 66), Mark Marshall. Subs not used: Collins, Shaw.

Referee: W Atkin (Crawley).

Man-of-the-match: Andy Atkin.

Attendance: 752.

Can Borough be stopped in their current form? .