It finished goalless between Eastbourne Borough and in-form Hemel Hempstead Town in a physical encounter at The ReachTV Stadium.

Eastbourne, still searching for their first win, had majority of possession but couldn’t quite make the final pass count, whilst Hemel probably had the better of the chances on the counter-attack.

The Sports had the better spells of pressure early on – with Michael Johnson doing well to claim low balls in from George Alexander – returning from injury – and Josh Anifowose.

Jes Uchegbulam then did well to cut inside from the left and tee up Tayt Trusty, but his shot was blocked before Arthur Grout’s follow-up flashed wide.

However, it was Hemel who had the best chance of the first half with their only attempt of the first 45 minutes. George Williams found space on the left and lifted the ball in and picked out Millar Matthews-Lewis at the far post, but from close range he headed over.

The impressive Grout won possession in midfield for Borough and drove forwards, but saw his strike charged down, before Anifowose teed up Trusty – only to see his effort blocked by Jordon Thompson.

Anifowose then went close early in the second half but fired off target, before Johnson did well to turn substitute Pemi Aderoju’s header around the post on the hour mark.

Hemel then had a chance to win it late on, but a great block from Camron Gbadebo denied Finley Wilkinson before Hamza Semakula fired just wide with the last kick of the game on the East Sussex coast.