GOSPORT Borough had goalkeeper Dan Thomas sent off in a 2-0 National League South defeat at Eastbourne Borough.
Gosport hit the woodwork twice through Tony Lee and Tom Bird in an encouraging first-half display on Eastbourne’s 3G surface.
Even when Elliott Romain pounced on a defensive lapse to give the hosts a 51st-minute lead, Alex Pike's men were far from out of it.
But their hopes of a comeback disintegrated with ten minutes to go when Thomas saw red for taking out Borough’s top scorer Nathaniel Pinney, who duly beat sub keeper Nick Jordan from the spot.
Gosport, 19th, now head to fellow strugglers Truro City, 18th, on Tuesday for a relegation ‘six pointer.’
Poole Town ensured Bishops Stortford remain entrenched in the drop zone, winning 4-1 at Woodside Park.
Two Steve Devlin penalties and goals by fit-again Luke Roberts and Marvin Brooks lifted Poole into fourth spot.
The Dolphins rise above Hungerford Town who lost 1-0 at table-topping Ebbsfleet United. Ex-Eastleigh midfielder Andy Drury netted Ebbsfleet’s winner.
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