George Alexander scored his second hat-trick in a week, but Eastbourne Borough were made to settle for a point against Hemel Hempstead Town.

The Sports were 2-0 and then 3-1 up at The ReachTV Stadium, but Hemel fought back to deny Adam Murray’s side all three points.

The draw keeps Borough second, but after results elsewhere the gap to the pack below has been reduced in the National League South.

Borough were straight on the front foot at The ReachTV Stadium, and went ahead on 13 minutes. Moussa Diarra met Pierce Bird’s hanging corner, and his downward header was eventually bundled home by Alexander.

Things then got even better just three minutes later when Alexander was on hand to acrobatically turn Ollie Kensdale’s effort home from six yards out.

Hemel weren’t without their chances though, with Mazeed Ogungbo and then Brandon Barzey firing off target when well placed in the first half.

Joe Wright was then alert to save well from Oliver Lynch, but the Borough keeper was beaten just two minutes after the restart. Lynch ran onto a long ball over the top and poked past Wright.

The Sports, though, restored their two-goal lead on 55 minutes. Yahaya Bamba was bundled over inside the area, and Alexander stepped up to convert from the spot to complete his hat-trick.

However, Hemel stayed in touch when Barzey finished well after the Sports had lost possession in their own third, before the visitors fought back to get on level terms midway through the second half. Ben Tompkins was given a free header and he met Barzey’s corner with a bullet header into the top corner.

Despite pushing for a winner, neither team could get the decisive blow in an entertaining affair in Sussex.