Eastbourne Borough were today still coming to terms with the last-minute goal that ended their FA Trophy adventure.

Conference title-chasers Dagenham snatched a last-gasp winner to break Borough hearts when substitute Danny Shipp scored with a deflected shot one minute from time.

Dagenham, second in the Nationwide Conference and 50 places above Eastbourne in the pyramid, were playing Premiership Ipswich Town in the FA Cup third round nine days ago.

They were red-hot favourites but Borough showed no nerves and were distraught at the outcome.

Goalkeeper Paul Stark said: "We were so close. When they scored it was hard to take.

"I can't praise the lads enough, there were some amazing performances from us.

"Everyone is gutted. We tried so hard for 89 minutes against a team who were supposed to thrash us.

"I didn't think they looked much better than us. We set out to do what we wanted to do and everyone worked hard.

"Realistically, I didn't think we could win but after the first half we all started to believe we could. I can't praise the lads enough."

The 20-year-old goalkeeper was one of many impressive performers as Borough thrived on the bigger stage.

Stark joined Borough late last year after attending Mobile University in Alabama on a soccer scholarship where he studied business management.

He said: "I loved the occasion. I want to go further. This was the first big game I have played in and I want eventually to play for a club like Dagenham. Ultimately my big goal is to be a professional."

Despite missing key man Stuart Tuck and having Matt Smart on the bench due to injury, Borough started positively.

John Westcott flashed a shot past the post and Matt Crabb used his pace to unlock the home defence.

The Borough back four had their work cut out to shackle former Albion striker Junior McDougald and Conference top scorer Ken Charlery.

Dave Adams nearly opened the scoring for the visitors but Mark Smith cleared his goalbound effort off the line in the 15th minute.

Stark then pushed Charlery's 30-yarder round the post and at the other end Tony Roberts made an excellent stop as he got down to turn away Adams' low shot.

After the break, the east London side enjoyed more of the possession and Steve McGavin hit the left-hand foot of Stark's post with a diving header from Charlery's cross.

Defender Darren Baker made a crucial tackle on McDougald in the area with the former Albion striker poised to shoot.

The performance of Baker and his defensive colleagues looked set to earn Wilson's side a lucrative replay at Priory Lane tomorrow but substitute Shipp had other plans.

He wriggled clear on the left of the box and fired in a shot that ricocheted off Baker and Ben Austin to creep inside Stark's near post.

Borough's weary players could scarcely believe their misfortune but the manager was more philosophical.

Garry Wilson said: "That's football. We kept looking at the clock and thinking we might just do it.

"The plan was to kept it tight and make it as hard as we could for them to win.We did that and we made some good chances too. We can learn a lot from this."