WELWYN GC exited the FA Trophy in this third qualifying round tie, away to step 3 Eastbourne.
The home Boro side, in the National League South last season, before relegation to the Isthmian Premier, just about deserved to go through, although the two goal margin was somewhat flattering on a plucky, spirited WGC performance.
There was also a highly controversial, crucial moment in the tie, just after half-time, when match referee Ben McDonald awarded the home side their second penalty of the afternoon.
WGC’s Egan Ngete’s challenge on Sam Oguntayo of the home side, clearly looked outside of the box, but Mr McDonald throught otherwise, despite the protests of the whole visiting team and bench.
The home side’s Kai Corbett slotted in the spot-kick – his second of the day – to give Boro the lead in the tie for the first time.
The Citizens, who were lacking injured skipper Jay Lovell and striker Kendall Gyamfi and unavailable full-back Brad Dixon-Smith, had clearly shocked their step higher opponents and most in a crowd of 569, by taking the lead on 31 minutes.
Ryan Hayes, who had an outstanding opening half for WGC intercepted a loose pass and sent Tyreece Robertson racing down the left. He switched passes with Reece Mosanya, took the return and drove past home keeper Lewis Carey for a 1-0 lead.
Eastbourne had made a strong start, Connor Sansom, in the WGC goal, having to make early saves from Arthur Grout and Darren McQueen, while Ethan Rookard drove WGC’s best effort past Carey’s post after a fine Junior Moses run.
Unfortunately, WGC could only hold the lead for seven minutes, until Moses blotted his copybook with a poor challenge that floored McQueen inside the box for an indisputed first Eastbourne penalty.
Corbett netted his first spot-kick to bring the home side level, eight minutes from the interval.
WGC replaced Luis Cantello quickly after the break, Malek Nosike coming on, but almost immediately came the highly controversial second penalty award, which seemed to hit the visitors badly.
Eastbourne dominated the next 20 minutes and only a spectacular Sansom save, to foil home defender Carter, kept the margin at one.
Manager Gavin Kelsey introduced Nick Ralfe for Robertson and within minutes, the winger bamboozled home full-back Matt Hayden with a great left-wing run and chipped over a cross which Mosanya forced home for 2-2.
Luca Gordon and Evaristo Mendes came on for Hayes and Mosanya before the Sussex side regained their lead, nine minutes from time.
Sansom made another outstanding point blank save to keep out a close-in Oguntayo effort, but WGC couldn’t get the ball clear and Grout picked up and made it 3-2 with a ferocious effort into the roof of the net.
Four minutes later, Eastbourne got a clinching fourth, defender Carter outmuscling Frankie Impey on the near post to force home a corner for 4-2.
But WGC battled to the end and Impey got forward to meet a late free-kick and head down to substitute Reece Barrett, who should have done better than fire straight at keeper Carey, when presented with the chance to make the final scoreline, even closer.
WGC: Sansom, Ntege, Impey, Gauthier, Moses, Corbit (Barrett 81), Cantello (Nosike 47), Robertson (Ralfe 63), Hayes (Gordon 70), Mosanya (Mendes 76), Rookard.
