Eastbourne Borough beat Welwyn Garden City 4-2 in the FA Trophy Final on Saturday, 26 September 2026. The victory at the final whistle secured the trophy for the hosts, who had been building momentum through their recent run of results. Welwyn Garden City arrived in decent form but could not hold their ground against a side that had found its rhythm.
And here's the thing — Eastbourne's path to this final had not been smooth. They dropped points against Tonbridge Angels and lost twice in earlier fixtures, yet they managed to string together wins against Windsor and Whitehawk in September. To be fair, those back-to-back victories gave them confidence heading into the showpiece event.
Welwyn Garden City's recent record suggested they were a side capable of trouble. A 2-1 win over Walthamstow and a clean sheet against Malbarton Wanderers showed resilience, while their 1-0 victory over Redbridge demonstrated they could grind out results. By then, they had proved they were not a team to dismiss lightly.
The final scoreline told the story of a match that did not stay close for long. Four goals to two meant Eastbourne Borough controlled the decisive moments, though Welwyn Garden City found the net on two occasions to keep the contest alive for stretches. There was no value left at that number once the hosts got going.
What matters now is the silverware. Eastbourne Borough lift the FA Trophy, a result that adds weight to their standing in non-league football. Welwyn Garden City's campaign ends here, but their recent form — particularly the three wins in five — suggests they will be a force next season.
