Carey's Four Penalty Saves Propel Eastbourne Borough to Dramatic FA Trophy Advance

Eastbourne Borough FC pulled off a thrilling comeback victory against Leatherhead FC, fighting back from two goals down to force a penalty shoot-out, where goalkeeper Lewis Carey emerged as the undisputed hero. Carey, who recently returned to the club, delivered a goalkeeping masterclass by saving an astonishing four penalties, securing Eastbourne's passage into the Second Round of the Isuzu FA Trophy on Saturday. This dramatic win comes at a crucial time for 'The Sports,' offering a significant morale boost after their recent exit from the Emirates FA Cup, where they lost 3-0 to Salisbury on October 17. The match against 'The Tanners' was a true test of grit, played on a deteriorating, puddle-ridden pitch that saw Eastbourne's Max Sheaf and Nathan Laleye score their first goals for the club, only for Leatherhead to equalize in the final minutes. Lewis Carey return to Eastbourne Borough for the 2026/27 season, after a successful stint at Horsham FC, has already proven pivotal, demonstrating the experience and leadership manager Steve King sought. With their FA Trophy journey now extended, Eastbourne Borough will eagerly await the draw for the Second Round, hoping to build on this momentum for their Isthmian Premier Division campaign. The focus will be on maintaining the fighting spirit shown against Leatherhead and integrating their recent goalscorers, Sheaf and Laleye, more consistently into the squad. This 'never-say-die' attitude, spearheaded by Carey's heroics, could be the catalyst 'The Sports' need to navigate a challenging season and aim for further cup glory.