Eastbourne Borough showed great character to come from behind to earn a point against Slough Town at The ReachTV Stadium.

After a goalless first half in which both teams had good chances, it was Slough who struck first through Jaiden Drakes-Thomas.

Pemi Aderoju then fired Borough level on the hour mark – with the hosts unlucky not to go on to win the game as they were made to settle for a point in the Enterprise National League South.

Matt Gray made three changes to the team that lost at Bath two days ago – with Harvey Lintott returning to the team whilst there were full debuts for goalkeeper Ryan Sandford and teenage midfielder Arthur Grout.

After an even start, it was Slough who created the first clear opportunity after eleven minutes. Wiktor Makowski latched onto a flick through and was in on goal, but saw his effort well saved by Sandford, with skipper Dan Quick doing well to deny a clean shot on the rebound.

Then Borough had their first opportunity. Isaac Pitblado’s long ball forwards was headed sideways by a defender and fell into the path of Aderoju, but his volley was saved by the diving Adam Desbois.

The Sports then went close shortly after a drinks break. Grout played the ball out wide to Jes Uchegbulam, who showed great trickery to cut inside from the left, but his low drive was held by Desbois at his near post.

The hosts then suffered a blow nine minutes before the break when Joey Phuthi pulled up when he looked to be through on goal – and was forced off, with Imani Lanquedoc coming on for his home debut.

Slough went close to the breakthrough on 41 minutes. Johnny Goddard lined up a free-kick 22 yards out, and his effort came back off the bar. The ball dropped to Tyrique Clarke, but Lintott was well placed on the line to clear his follow-up effort in a crowded area.

Borough were then camped in the Slough half as the first half drew to a close – but neither Uchegbulam or Aderoju could get a clean shot away as the physical away defence stood firm.

The visitors – fresh from an impressive win over Ebbsfleet on Saturday – went close early in the second half when Jordan Greenidge was unable to turn Makowski’s low ball goalwards at the near post, before they broke the deadlock.

Makowski flicked the ball from the right hand side into the path of Drakes-Thomas on the edge of the area, and he burst through to drill an effort beyond Sandford on 54 minutes.

The Sports looked for a response. The impressive Grout played the ball to Uchegbulam down the right, and his low cross found Aderoju who forced Desbois into a save before Uchegbulam himself had a go from range – with his shot taking a deflection which saw the ball dip just over.

And from the resulting corner, the Sports were level. Pitblado’s inswinging delivery picked out Aderoju at the far post, who showed great strength to hold off his marker to volley beyond the reach of the keeper.

It was from another corner that the hosts almost went in front four minutes later. Pitblado again with the delivery and this time Freddie Carter looked to get on the end of it, but Desbois scrambled across his goal to keep the ball out.

Borough’s pressure continued after the break for drinks. Lanquedoc fed the ball to Grout on the left, but the youngster saw his low drive beaten away at the near post by Desbois before the Slough keeper produced a fine stop to keep out Mo Sagaf’s free-kick from the edge of the area.

Grout made way for Josh Anifowose – making his first appearance since picking up an injury in March – on 77 minutes, and with nine minutes to go Borough almost went in front.

Carter’s long throw was helped on by Aderoju across the face of goal but Uchegbulam couldn’t quite get on the end of it, before there was one last chance in stoppage time – but Sagaf couldn’t get a free-kick from a dangerous area on target.

Another point on the board for The Sports, who will be buoyed on by a positive display in front of a supportive Bank Holiday crowd.