Eastbourne Borough 1, Bromley 2.

Eastbourne Borough striker Scott Ramsay believes his side want the Blue Square south title more than Lewes.

Borough had their lead cut to one point as they slipped up 2-1 at home to ten-man Bromley.

But former Albion hitman Ramsay remains confident Borough have the desire to emerge as the champions.

He said: "I feel we want the title more than Lewes. All of us - players and management - want to go up as champions. We don't want any play-off winners' medals.

"We want the big trophy. We've got a fantastic team morale with a lot of local lads and no big-time Charlies.

"We have also got competition for places in all positions for the first time in my six years here. It has upped individual performances by 20 per cent.

"Bromley thoroughly deserved the win but we have come too far this season to throw it away now. It would be heart-breaking if we did.

"We've got some tough games coming up in the run-in but so have Lewes.

"I don't think the pressure of being leaders has got to us. We can deal with that. We led the table a few weeks ago and lost two games on the spin but bounced back. We are top because we have earned the right to be."

Ramsay feels Borough can get back on track at Welling on Monday when Lewes entertain seventh-placed Fisher.

He said: "It won't be easy because Welling are fighting for their lives but Fisher won't be easy for Lewes either as they are close to the play-offs."

Garry Wilson's men will need a big improvement judging by this lacklustre display and it seems they will have to produce it without Andy Atkin.

Their leading marksman, who has hit 27 goals this season, was ruled out for Bromley's visit with a calf strain and Wilson hinted the problem could also sideline him on Monday.

He said: "Andy took a knock last Tuesday (in the 3-1 home win against Hayes and Yeading). We kept it quiet and it has responded to treatment. I don't know about him returning for Welling. It might not possibly be until Saturday."

Wilson refused to make Atkin's absence against Bromley an excuse for the manner of the defeat.

He said: "It wouldn't have made the slightest difference if he had been fit. There were too many players below par. He could not have carried them all on his own.

"We were off the pace. Perhaps it was Tuesday's game but us being top wasn't a factor. We have just got to take the loss and move on."

A bobbly pitch and blustery conditions wrecked any hope of much decent football.

Bromley did their best to serve up a feast for the 1,132 crowd, the second highest league gate at Priory Lane this season, but Borough left their fans hungry.

The hosts were second best against the play-off hopefuls but it seemed as if Borough might get lucky.

They remained in the game at 0-0 deep into the second half thanks largely to the brilliance of goalkeeper Lee Hook, who made a string of saves from former Worthing front-runner Omari Coleman and Gareth Williams.

But Borough's good fortune ran out as Bromley took the lead after 72 minutes.

Like large portions of the match, it was a scrappy affair as Luke l'Anson bundled the ball in off Borough duo Neil Jenkins and Matt Smart from a corner.

Mark De Bolla doubled Bromley's lead in the second minute of injury time before being sent off for an alleged headbutt on Andy Ballard.

Borough skipper Paul Armstrong backheaded home a Jay Lovett cross to make it 2-1 a minute later but it was too little too late.

Armstrong said: "We were sluggish but the title is still in our hands. We know there is a long way to go but we can take confidence from what we have done this season.

"It is a two-horse race between us and Lewes and it is 50-50."

Eastbourne Borough: Hook, Ballard, Jenkins, Kember (sub Smart 62), Lovett, Pullan, Harding, Armstrong, Tait (sub N Crabb 67), Ramsay, M Crabb (sub Budd 62). Subs not used: Baker, Lightwood.

Bromley: GI Williams, Corneille, Wood, Beckford, Henriques, Sobers, l'Anson, Osborn, Coleman (sub McDonnell 72), GA Williams, De Bolla. Subs not used: Bowry, Davis, Haverson, Duo.

Attendance: 1,132.

Man-of-the-match: Lee Hook (Eastbourne Borough).