Pemi Aderoju’s stoppage time effort earned Eastbourne Borough a deserved share of the points away at Ebbsfleet United.

Arthur Grout’s first Borough goal had put the Sports in front in the second half at Kuflink Stadium.

However, the hosts turned the game around through Kwesi Appiah and Finlay Barnes’ deflected effort.

But Borough never gave in – and Aderoju was rewarded with his eighth goal of the season in the fifth minute of added time to earn a point.

The first half was a closely fought affair. Borough had the first real sight of goal when Laiith Fairnie headed Isaac Pitblado’s free-kick across to Tayt Trusty, but his header went straight at Mark Cousins.

Freddie Carter then headed straight at the keeper as he met Jes Uchegbulam’s corner, whilst at the other end skipper Max Ehmer fired a volley well over before Fairnie produced a great block to deny Aaron Cosgrave after Appiah broke down the left.

The best opening of the first 45 minutes fell to the Sports on 36 minutes. Grout won the ball in midfield and played through Josh Anifowose, who led a counter attack. With options left and right, he eventually played in a cross himself, with the ball not falling Borough’s way, and the opportunity had gone before Aderoju had a shot blocked.

Ebbsfleet hadn’t registered a shot on target in the first half – but went close early in the second half when Appiah received the ball into his feet inside the area, but his effort was deflected just wide of the post.

It was a case of close, but not close enough for Borough when Uchegbulam’s low ball in from the left couldn’t quite find Aderoju, but it was Matt Gray’s side who went in front on the hour mark.

The Sports cleared a corner and Anifowose outmuscled a defender to win the ball and play it forwards for Grout to burst onto just inside the Ebbsfleet half, and he broke through on goal before producing a superb lob over Cousins and into the net.

However, Borough’s joy was short-lived. Gene Kennedy got a shot away from the edge of the area and Ryan Sandford could only parry the ball into the path of Appiah, who finished from close range.

Cosgrave was then denied from close range by the Borough keeper as he met Ben Coker’s cross in, before the Sports went close on 75 minutes – Trusty sending a diving header just over the bar as he met Pitblado’s free-kick.

But with eleven minutes to go, the hosts went in front. Substitute Barnes had space for a shot from outside the area, and the ball took a deflection to take it beyond Sandford and into the net.

George Alexander, Jayden Davis and debutant Kingsley Anokye were introduced as Borough pressed for an equaliser – and their hard work was rewarded in the fifth of six added minutes.

Ebbsfleet played the ball back to goalkeeper Cousins, and Aderoju – who worked tirelessly throughout – put him under pressure and charged down his clearance. The ball dropped to the feet of the forward, who finished emphatically to ensure Borough left Kent with a point.