Eastbourne Borough took another point towards National League South safety, but were denied confirming their survival after a stoppage time equaliser at Weston-super-Mare.
Jamie Soule’s goal in the 95th minute denied the Sports sealing their step two status for next season after Yahya Bamba had given them a first half lead.
Borough now wait to see the outcome of Taunton’s result on Thursday night to see if the battle for survival will go down to the final day, with defeat for Taunton at home to Weston meaning the Sports will escape the drop.
Pierce Bird returned from suspension and replaced the injured Jack Clarke in the only change from Saturday’s win over Chippenham.
After an even opening few minutes, it was Weston who had the first chance after 7 minutes. Robbie Willmott played a first time ball across to Marlon Jackson in space, but Harrison Foulkes produced a fine save to tip his strike over the bar from inside the area.
But it was the Sports who broke the deadlock after 20 minutes at The Optima Stadium. Bamba looked to run onto Brad Barry’s ball over top and he put pressure on Jason Pope as he headed the ball back to Max Harris, and the ball came loose to allow the forward to fire home from a tight angle.
The hosts looked to get back into the game, but Foulkes once again denied them as Willmott whipped in a cross to the far post but Jackson’s header back across goal was well saved by the Borough keeper.
The Sports went close to doubling their lead before the break when Matt Green saw his shot well blocked after Dan Quick crossed the ball in, before Barry was unlucky not to direct his header from Alfie Bendle’s corner on target.
Shooting up the slope in the second half, the Sports defended with discipline and restricted the hosts to few clear opportunities.
Jacob Cane and Dayle Grubb both fired off target, before Foulkes got down well to deny Bailey Kempster on the hour mark.
The hosts enjoyed more of the ball, with Grubb firing a low free-kick just wide of the bottom corner before Borough broke on the counter.
Green played a great ball through to Bamba who looked to get clear, but under pressure from Lloyd Humphries saw his low drive saved by Harris.
As time ticked on, the Sports made a treble change with Jake Hutchinson, Imran Uche and Decarrey Sheriff all coming on, but they couldn’t halt the growing pressure.
Keiran Thomas’ low drive from 20 yards was well blocked by Moussa Diarra, before James Dodd’s got on the end of Willmott’s free-kick but saw his effort well held by Foulkes.
Borough defended for their lives as they knew three points would guarantee safety, and they looked on course to hold on as Foulkes produced another great save to tip Humphries’ 25 yard strike over the bar in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
However, from the resulting corner the hosts drew level. The corner was swung in to the far post and Borough looked to scramble the ball away. Bodies were flying everywhere before the ball dropped to Soule and the substitute rifled it in off the bar from twelve yards.
A point could ultimately prove crucial for the Sports, with the fight continuing potentially into the final day of the campaign.
