Eastbourne Borough FC played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Chesham United FC at The ReachTV Stadium in a match that showcased flashes of brilliance. The Sports started brightly, with Alfie Pavey at the heart of the action, testing Chesham’s goalkeeper Goode early on with a header following a corner in the 9th minute. The momentum was firmly with Borough as they pressed forward, and just two minutes later, Jayden Davis almost found Pavey on the end of a well-placed cross, only for the Chesham defence to scramble the ball out for another corner.

The first half continued with both teams creating chances, but neither side could break the deadlock. Pavey came close again in the 19th minute with a long-range effort that whistled just over the bar. At the other end, goalkeeper Wright was called into action in the 32nd minute, making a comfortable save to deny Chesham after a defensive clearance fell kindly to an opposition player. A blow came for the home side in the 35th minute when Klass had to be substituted due to injury, with Ligendza coming on to replace him.

The breakthrough finally came in the 58th minute for Borough. A perfectly timed ball into the box by Dan Quick found Pavey, who expertly headed it back across goal for Davis to smash home, sending the home fans into celebration. Despite taking the lead, the Sports couldn’t rest on their laurels as Chesham responded with increased pressure. The visitors came close on several occasions, including a heart-stopping moment in the 65th minute when they flashed a shot over the bar after being played through on goal.

As the clock ticked down, Chesham’s pressure paid off in the 86th minute. A well-delivered corner was headed back across goal, and Eastbourne’s defence couldn’t clear their lines, allowing Minhas to slot home the equaliser. The visitors almost snatched all three points in stoppage time, but Minhas wasted an opportunity by shooting over the bar. In the end, a draw was a fair reflection of the match, with Dan Quick’s defensive and attacking prowess earning him the Man of the Match award for Eastbourne Borough. The team will take the positives from this performance as they continue their campaign, with the season still in its early stages.