Eastbourne Borough go four games unbeaten as Tommy Widdrington’s side drew 1-1 with play-off chasing Dartford at Priory Lane Saturday afternoon

Tom Bradbrook was sent-off for Dartford in the second-half after his high elbow caught Kiran Khinda-John, but Nathaniel Pinney scored his 18th goal of the season before Andy Pugh rifled in a superb equaliser for the visitors from Kent.

Borough started well fresh from thier impressive victory over neighbours Whitehawk last Tuesday, and after controlling the majority of the ball in the opening stages, the Sports forced two early corners which came to nothing.

It was a largely uneventful first 15 minutes, the blustery conditions were causing havoc for Dartford’s keeper Deren Ibrahim; but Elliot Romain did have a good chance to open the scoring from a corner, but he couldn’t divert the ball into the net after it bounced to him quickly.

The first real bright spark of the game produced a goal; Jamie Taylor’s cross was parried by Ibrahim into the path of Pinney, and the former Crystal Palace made no mistake by confidently stroking the ball into the unguarded net.

Dartford engineered their first real chance of the game midway through the first-half when a lovely ball was curled into the Borough box, but Bradbrook who was unmarked couldn’t get on the end of the cross.

Five minutes before half-time Borough won a free-kick in a dangerous position after a foul on Taylor; the resulting effort by Pinney was just wide of Ibrahim’s goal.

Just as the second-half kicked off, Dartford was nearly level through Bradbrook’s header which just looped over the bar.

And shortly after the close header, Mark Onyemah’s shot-cum cross was cleared off the line from loanee Callum Buckley.

Romain’s pace was always something Borough could rely on in the second-half, and just before the hour-mark he broke into the box. But he dragged his shot wide of the mark.

Dartford bought on Ryan Hales to try and get Dartford back into the contest, and he nearly made a good impression straightaway as his shot was palmed away by Carey.

And then shortly after Dartford’s chance, substitute Darren Lok went one-on-one with the keeper after Dartford’s defence misjudged the flight of the ball, but Ibrahim made the save, when really the pacy forward should have scored.

Dartford equalised in the 71st minute through a wonderful goal from Pugh; it looked as though nothing was on, but the forward turned in the box a rifled home a superb volley into the top corner.

But immediately after Dartford got back into the contest they shot themselves in the foot with Elliot Bradbrook’s brother Tom was sent-off for a dangerous elbow on Khinda-John.

Borough had chances in the last five minutes to take all three points, but Taylor’s effort flew wide, and then when it opened up for Romain he blazed high and wide.

Ultimately it was a good point for the Sports as the windy conditions made hard work of a game which should have been a hugely entertaining affair, next up for Borough is Tuesday night away trip to Margate.

Teams Eastbourne Borough: L. Carey, J. Sheppard, S. Beale, C. Stone (c), C. Buckley, K. Khinda-John (G. McCallum, 85), R. Worrall (I. Simpemba, 68), N. Collier, N. Pinney (D. Lok, 58), J. Taylor, E. Romain.

Substitutes: I. Simpemba, K. Haysman, B. Bosma Dartford: D. Ibrahim, T. Gardiner, M. Onyemah, R. Vint, C. McNaughton, T. Wynter, D. Harris, E. Bradbrook (c), A Pugh, T. Bradbrook, J. Simmons (R. Hales, 66).

Substitutes: G. Sykes, Becka-Kah Dembele, B. Francis, L. Boye