Eastbourne Borough’s preparation for the new National League South campaign continued with a 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic XI.

The Sports went ahead inside ten minutes, but were pegged back in the second half as Mark Beard’s side continue to get minutes in the tank.

Another positive was the attendance – another four-figure crowd for the second game in a row.

The Sports got off to the perfect start, taking the lead inside the first seven minutes. Alfie Bridgman received the ball out on the right, before cutting inside onto his left foot and from outside the box the Maltase U19 international picked out the top corner perfectly.

Both sides looked to get on the ball as conditions took a turn for the worst at Priory Lane, with chances limited in the first 45 minutes.

Leone Gravata was fouled before he could put Stefan Vukoje through on goal, before Ryan Viggars had Charlton’s first real effort when he fired over when well placed on the twenty minute mark.

Tolu Ladapo then fed Jason Adigun who fired a low ball across goal, but it went went of the far post.

The Sports made a few changes at the break, with Beard keen to give minutes to all of his squad.

And sub goalkeeper Harrison Foulkes did well to keep Borough ahead five minutes after the interval when saving from Ladapo.

The hosts looked to get on the front foot after 52 minutes when Jack Paxman played the ball down the left into the path of Fletcher Holman, who forced Henry Molyneux into a smart low save before Vukoje’s effort on the follow up was straight at the keeper.

Scott Leslie defended well to block Ladapo’s shot on goal, before the young Addicks eventually took their chance after the hour.

The dangerous Ladapo was played in behind on the left and he squared the ball across to Henry Rylah who turned the ball in from close range.

Back came Borough, however. Holman saw his low drive kept out by the feet of Molyneux before Shiloh Remy forced a save at the keeper’s near post.

And the hosts came close to a winner late on. Decarrey Sheriff did well to run onto a ball through from Jack Clarke, before he laid it into the path of Trialist A, but his drive went just over the top corner from the edge of the area.

Overall, another good workout for Eastbourne Borough, with the National League South kicking off in just two weeks time.