A goal seven minutes from time condemned Eastbourne Borough to a 1-0 defeat at Havant and Waterlooville.
Borough seemed to be on course for a deserved point before James Taylor's 83rd minute strike settled matters.
The first half was a scrappy affair but Havant looked the better side going forward.
The impressive Taylor created two good chances for himself but he was off target on both occasions.
When Alec Masson headed over from a corner it looked like it could be another bad day at the office for Borough boss Garry Wilson.
But Borough came back into the game and Mark Goodwin should have put them ahead ten minutes before the break when he fired over the bar.
Borough were gifted a great chance on 53 minutes when keeper Gareth Howells cleared straight to Ben White but the striker's delicate chip drifted over the bar.
The game could have gone either way until Havant were awarded a free kick 20 yards out seven minutes from time.
Brett Poate hit a low drive which Lee Hook could not hold on to and Taylor followed up to claim all three points for the home side.
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