Eastbourne United AFC turned the form book on its head and produced one of their best performances of the season as they returned to winning ways in emphatic style, brushing aside league leaders Little Common 3-0 at The Oval on Friday night.

With unavailability and injuries hitting United hard, there were four changes to the side that lost their previous league fixture at Loxwood last Saturday with Danny Simmonds, Shaun Lee and Steve Stracey all unavailable, there were returns for Aaron Filsell, Luke Denton and Liam Baitup. To further Paul Daubeney’s selection dilemma, goalkeeper Andy Albon was injured during the warm up and was replaced by Adam Sargent prior to kick-off.

Opponents Little Common came into the game sitting on top of SCFL Division Two and made the first half chance of the contest when the lively Jamie Crone flicked the ball past Ben Hughes to bear down on the United goal, only for Luke Denton to make a superb last ditch tackle as the striker pulled back to release his shot.
It was to be United who drew first blood in the contest as a Nick Barden corner evaded everybody in the area and found its way into the back of the net for the veteran wingers first goal of the season.
The newly formed attacking trio of Greenall, Cooper and Baitup linked up well, forcing Little Common into conceding numerous first half corners from which United looked dangerous.
Greenall came closest to doubling the lead as a deflected Simon Catt cross found the gangly striker well placed, but proceeded to head wide.
But on the half hour, United doubled the lead that their first half play deserved after a fantastic move starting with Adam Sargent ended with Greenall connecting to a Pete Cooper cross to head back across Saunders and into the back of the net.
Common started to find their feet and Crone came close for the visitors after 42 minutes when his left footed drive garnered the faintest of fingertips from Sargent in the United goal.
Greenall could have made it 3-0 as the half-time whistle loomed, but his powerful strike was well saved by Saunders
The second half started as the first ended with Greenall having a chance saved by the visiting ‘keeper, but it would take just 10 minutes if the second half for United to further their lead as a long throw from Denton found its way to Liam Baitup at the back post and the striker did what he does best – rifling the ball home under Saunders to take his tally to 12 league goals this season.
United had further chances to extend their lead with Cooper and Greenall foiled by Saunders, but Little Common continued to use their pace to run at the United defence, but Hughes, Featherstone, Denton and Filsell nullified any threat that the league leaders offered as they kept their first clean sheet since the opening game of the season to secure a confidence boosting victory