Stevenage Borough

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Mitchell Cole

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Eastbourne 0-6 Stevenage

Stevenage Borough kept the heat on leaders Oxford United by thrashing ten-man Eastbourne Borough at the Langney Sports Club on Tuesday evening.

A hat-trick from Mitchell Cole plus goals from Mark Roberts, David Bridges and Chris Beardsley secured an emphatic victory for Boro, which keeps them very much in the hunt for league glory.

Darren Baker was dismissed for a professional foul late on in the fixture to compound the home side's misery.

Roberts got the ball rolling for the visitors in the 40th minute with a neat finish from close range to send the away side into the break with a deserved lead after good early pressure. While the visitors shaded the first period, Eastbourne had their moments, but they were unable to capitilise on any of them - being punished with the late goal as a result.

Stevenage started the second period just as they had finished the first with Bridges doubling their advantage with a textbook header from a Joel Byrom set-piece.

Then Beardsley made the most of some indecisive defending by tapping home a blocked clearance from Danny Knowles in the 70th minute to make it 3-0.

Cole, who had come on as a substitute, went about tearing the home side's defence to shreds by scoring one of the fastest hat-tricks in Blue Square Premier history.

His first came courtesy of an 83rd minute penalty which saw Baker red carded for a foul on Beardsley. His second came when Eddie Odhiambo put the ball on a plate and Cole could make no mistake, while his third was the result of a great ball from Stacy Long in the 90th minute.

Stevenage are now a point behind the leaders, while Eastbourne Borough are struggling near the relegation zone in 19th place.

Eastbourne bookings: Armstrong

Sent Off: Baker

Stevenage bookings: None

Attendance: 903

Ref: Nick Kinseley