IT was another case of what might have been for Wrexham at Priory Lane this afternoon. The lack of penterating striker cost them dear as Eastbourne bided their time and got they break they were looking for with just five minutes remaining.

Borough were awarded a corner on 85 minutes, although the referee initially gave a goal kick, and although Gavin Ward saved the first effort defender Sam Smart was on hand to finish off from close range.

Following last Tuesday night's display at Crawley Town, manager Dean Saunders took the chance to rotate his squad with four players coming back into the reackoning.

Sam Aiston, Michael Proctor, Aurelien Colin and Nathan Fairhurst all returned, while Mike Williams, Jon Brown, Jamie McCluskey and Andy Fleming all stepped down.

The local side did well on six minutes, when Matt Crabb got down their left wing and cross into the box, here midfielder Matt Smart pulled back and left footed lifted the ball high over Gavin Ward's crossbar.

Wrexham were moving the ball with pace and plenty of passes as they cut through the home ranks at times, all too often though with little to show for their efforts.

The Sports wasted a great opportunity from a corner on 32 minutes, when Armstrong's pass back into the box was headed well over by defender Ben Austin, who had plenty of time to do better.

Shortly after Danny Brown had demolished Ashley Westwood on 38 minutes, with a challenge from behind, as the defender shepherded the ball out of play, the ball was played forward quickly and blue shirts swarmed all over the home defence.

Without testing keeper Lee Hook, both Andrew Crofts and Sam Williamson tried their luck.

HT

Then on 55 minutes, Proctor and Aiston played a nice one-two to set Aiston away and his cross was met by Louis in the centre, but his effort was weak, although it took a deflection for a corner.

A foul on Aiston, on the corner of the box, resulted in a Fairhurst free kick which was whipped in passed the back post, missing it's target by inches.

Eastbourne hit back at a free kick with Austin getting on the end of a cross into the Wrexham box, but Ward was equal to the volley from eight-yards.

On the hour Patrick Suffo was introduced for Louis and shortly afterwards the Sports sent on Jay Lovett for their striker Jeffery.

There was another piece of good defending by Collin who denied Armstrong from 12-yards out after good work by Matt Crabb on the left wing for Eastbourne.

Some fancy footwork from Williamson on 68 minutes allowed Aiston to find Fairhurst and his shot whistled just wide.

With 19 minutes left on came Wes Baynes for Flynn to bring on some fresh legs, while Jon Brown replaced Proctor on 81 minutes.

A quick free kick by the Dragons released Crofts through the middle, but the on loan man screwed his 30-yard effort wide.

From their own corner on 85 minutes, a high hanging ball was headed goal wards but Ward parried it up onto the bar before it came back out and Matt Smart ran in to crash home a header from six-yards.

It was a case of smash & grab for the home team, as Wrexham dominated possession but rarely threatened Lee Hook in the home goal.

A goalscorer is urgently required, but how many more clubs will be saying exactly the same thing?

Eastbourne: Lee Hook, Neil Jenkins, Darren Baker, Marc Pullan, Ben Austin, Matt Crabb (Pat Harding 90), Danny Brown, Matt Smart, Paul Armstrong, Jack Jeffery (Jay Lovett 64), Nathan Crabb.
Subs: Jacob Mingle, Simon Wormull, Michael Jordan.

Wrexham: Gavin Ward, Sam Williamson, Aurelien Collin, Ashley Westwood, John Curtis, Sam Aiston, Andrew Crofts, Nathan Fairhurst, Ryan Flynn (Wes Baynes 71), Jefferson Louis (Patrick Suffo 61), Michael Proctor (Jon Brown 81).
Subs: MIke Williams, Andy Fleming.

Referee: R Lee (Essex)
Attendance: 1,428
Away: 221

Bookings -
Eastbourne: Brown (90, foul)
Wrexham: Fairhurst (26, foul), Westwood (60, foul), Proctor (80, foul)