Matt Smart deservedly claimed the only goal of the game as Eastbourne Borough maintained their Eastern Division promotion bid with a 1-0 win at Spalding.

Smart had already missed two good chances when he struck midway through the second half, arriving late in the penalty area to tuck away a cross from John Westcott.

It was no more than Borough deserved after they were denied by the woodwork on three occasions.

Smart struck the post with a curling shot, Mark Goodwin's effort came back off the inside of the upright while Scott Ramsay saw his late header hit the underside of the bar before bouncing to safety via the goalkeeper's head.

Dean Lightwood made a couple of good saves when the game was goalless to deny the struggling hosts.

Borough coach Nick Greenwood said: "We thoroughly deserved to win the game but all the time it was 0-0 they are still in with a chance.

"It was justice that Matt got the winner. He had two of our best chances and kept making those runs from midfield."

The top four all won, but two of the other contenders, Tonbridge Angels and Histon, dropped points.

"There is a bit of a gap now between the top four and the rest and it's just important that we keep on going," added Greenwood.