Nothing could separate Eastbourne Borough and Worthing as the two title-chasers shared the points at The ReachTV Stadium.

In front of a league record crowd of 3,622 in East Sussex, it was the visitors who drew first blood when Glen Rea fired home ten minutes before the break – despite Aaran Racine seeing red for violent conduct.

The Sports needed to make their numerical advantage pay, and they drew back level through Alfie Pavey on 56 minutes.

But despite dominating possession, Borough couldn’t find a way past Lucas Covolan and had to settle for a point.

Adam Murray made three changes to the team that won at St Albans last weekend, with Freddie Carter, David Sesay and Dominic Odusanya coming into the side.

It was the Sports who started on the front foot, as Yahaya Bamba demonstrated his pace to get down the right-hand side but his low ball in couldn’t find George Alexander or Jason Adigun in the middle.

Worthing had the first shot on target of proceedings, with Joe Wright beating away Jack Spong’s free-kick from range, before the Borough defence did well to deal with Mo Faal’s weaving run – with Ollie Kensdale making a great recovering tackle to deny the forward.

Things were closely fought in the first 25 minutes, with neither team wanting to give away an inch – but a twist in the tale came shortly afterwards. Worthing player/coach Racine clashed with Alexander, with referee Harry Jones sending off the defender for an elbow on the Sports striker.

Alexander then had his effort from the resulting free-kick deflect wide for a corner, before Odusanya did well to wrestle possession from Danny Cashman – only to fire over.

However, it was Worthing who broke the deadlock with 35 minutes gone. The Sports didn’t clear their lines as Faal broke forwards, and Temi Babalola picked out Rea in space on the edge of the box – who after taking one touch to control it, then fired the ball past Wright.

Borough looked for a response, but Covolan did well to hold David Sesay’s low ball in before Adigun’s first-time effort was gathered by the keeper.

Murray made two changes at the break, introducing Pavey and Jayden Davis from the bench. The Sports looked to control the ball more, with the visitors always posing a threat on the counter.

And they almost doubled their lead early into the second half when Faal and Cashman linked up in the final third, only for the former to fire over the bar from twelve yards out.

The Sports were pushing forwards, with a good move seeing Sesay chip the ball in to Pavey at the far post, but he opted to pass instead of shoot and the chance was gone.

However, the striker made no mistake on 56 minutes. The impressive Jack Clarke whipped in a great free-kick and picked out Pavey at the far post, who sent his header beyond Covolan.

Borough were dominating the ball at this stage, but Davis couldn’t get enough on his header to find the far corner as he met Clarke’s cross, before the midfielder himself had a shot on goal – but volleyed just wide as Adigun’s corner was cleared to the edge of the area.

On 65 minutes, Clarke did well to win the ball from Rea in midfield, before he released Davis who looked to break through on goal, but his low effort was saved by Covolan.

Back came Worthing though, with Odei Martin-Sorondo firing just wide at the other end with a low first time strike, before Borough went close again moments later.

Sesay lifted the ball in from the right and Pavey rose well to meet it, but his bullet header was well saved by the diving Covolan.

As time wore on, only one team looked like they would win it. Davis had a strike blocked, before Adigun found Sesay on the right-hand side of the area, but his low ball in couldn’t quite find Pavey at the far post for a tap in.

With three minutes to go, Borough had another chance. Substitute Matt Green found Sesay on the right, and he found space against his marker to lift the ball in but Pavey could only head over the bar from close range.

Substitute Michael Klass then had a shot turned away by Covolan, but in stoppage time Wright had to be alert to deny Liam Nash from stealing all three points for the visitors.

The point leaves the Sports in fifth spot with two games of the National League South season to go – only two points off Worthing in top spot.