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Whyteleafe had the better of this game and will look back on a number of missed opportunities to have taken all three points.
The visitors started brightly and had a second minute penalty appeal turned down when Fabian Batchelor went down in the box. Two minutes later a cross from Daryl Coleman was headed across goal by Kwabena Agiye into the path of Fred Flemming but his shot was blocked.
'Leafe thought they had taken the lead in the 15th minute. Batchelor won a corner on the right which was taken by Chris O'Flaherty. Fleming's powerful header was headed away from inside the goal. 'Leafe's protests were in vain and no goal was awarded.
Eastbourne's first chance came in the 18th minute. Substitute Evan Archibald put Ashley Robinson through but his shot was well saved by Rob O'Hara.
Danny Simmons was lucky not to be red carded for an elbow in the face of O'Flaherty that saw him floored and covered in blood. The referee appeared not to see the incident and consulted both linesman and curiously gave a yellow card. O'Flaherty however gave the perfect answer two minutes later. Alec Brown won the ball from a corner and played it to O'Flaherty who shot home from the edge of the box.
O'Flaherty took a 25th minute corner that was met by Coleman but his header went wide.
'Leafe were having the better of the exchanges but the hosts were dangerous on the break. Liam Wright made a great run into the box after half an hour but shot over the bar, then 5 minutes later O'Hara was quickly out to bravely save at the feet of Steve Elliott.
The Surrey side should have extended their lead in the 39th minute. Coleman's excellent pass sent Batchelor clear. Keeper Keiron Thorp came out and forced him wide but the striker hit his shot way over the bar.
Eastbourne leveled the scores just before half time when Brad Manton found space in the box and slotted the ball past the advancing O'Hara.
'Leafe started the second half well. Danny Oakins 47th minute free kick was won in the box by Batchelor who laid the ball off to Agiye. His shot was cleared off the line by Greg Manton. A minute later O'Flaherty was brought down on the edge of the box. Coleman's free kick struck the wall and he then hit the rebound high and wide.
Brad Manton was sent clear in the 52nd minute but his shot went into the side netting.
'Leafe took the lead in the 53rd minute. A 20 yard shot from Agiye took a slight deflection off Manton and curled just inside the near post with Thorp rooted to the spot. 3 minutes later, Agiye made a good run down the left, then crossed deep into the area where Brown was onhand, but his volley was wide of the target.
Eastbourne equalised for the second time whenArchibald headed home from a 61st minute free kick.
Some of the Eastbourne tactics were pushing the rules to the limit and there was no real surprise when they lost a man to a second yellow card, Matt Ferdinando receiving his marching orders in the 71st minute. 'Leafe had most of the play in the closing stages but could not make the extra man advantage count so had to settle for a point.
Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Frith, Gunner, Fleming, Coleman (Grant 82), Stripp, Oakins, Batchelor (Webster 68 (Sweeney 77)), Brown, Agyei, O'Flaherty.