A debatable Paul Armstrong penalty earned Eastbourne Borough all three points at home to Grays Athletic.

Fabian Wilnis was harshly adjudged to have fouled Allan Tait as the Borough striker challenged for a ball in the air after 49 minutes.

Armstrong slotted home from the spot for the second time in three days, although Rob Beckwith did get a hand to it to push his shot on to a post.

Borough had a far better shout for a penalty when Tait was sent sprawling by Wilnis but this time referee Andrew Sainsbury was unmoved.

The home side also wasted a series of good chances to finish the game off with Matt Crabb shooting wide, Tait seeing a clever backheel well saved by Beckwith and Jack Jeffery firing over when clean through.

It made for a nervous ending even though Grays were reduced to ten men with ten minutes to go when Andy Pugh was shown a straight red for a late challenge on Matt Crabb.

Borough had taken the lead in the 13 minute when substitute goalkeeper Beckwith was slow off his line to a Neil Jenkins through ball. Jeffery's shot rebounded off Beckwith's legs straight to Jay Lovett who had the simplest task to roll his first league goal of the season into the unguarded net.

The home side failed to build on that breakthrough though and after Pugh had given them a warning by heading against the bar they equalised just before the break. Former Horsham striker Jamie Taylor crossed to the far post where Tommy Black nodded home from close range.