Eastbourne Borough recovered from back-to-back defeats to earn a point away at much-fancied Havant & Waterlooville.

For Sports boss Lee Bradbury it was a first return to Westleigh Park since leaving for Priory Lane in the summer and his Borough side put in a great defensive performance to draw 0-0.

However, the visitors walked a tight line throughout, with Roarie Deacon missing a first-half penalty.

There were few clear chances, although Greg Luer showed good pace up front to get behind the Havant defence only for Ross Worner to come off his line quickly to thwart the striker.

Andy Drury went close for the hosts as they grew into the game, before Ian Gayle and then Manny Adebowale blocked to deny Drury and then Wes Fogden.

Deacon played through Benny Read but Tom Hadler was out smartly to save before Borough had the frame of the goal to thank for the deadlock remaining intact.

A short-corner routine eventually saw Josh Taylor in room to have a shot on the edge of the area, and his effort beat Hadler only to come off of the underside of the bar, then the post, and then clear.

Havant had a great chance to go ahead when Hadler was penalised for tripping Taylor, despite looking to have got the ball, and the hosts were awarded a penalty. Deacon stepped up but could only fire over.

Borough grew into the game in the second period, as Elliott Romain let fly from 25 yards but Worner turned the ball over the bar.

As the half wore on the hosts continued to threaten. Danny Kedwell could not direct a header on target and only great defending from Gayle and Kiran Khinda-John kept the Hawks at bay.

In the end, though, it was a great point for the Sports on the back of two heavy defeats and a sign that improvement is around the corner.