Late leveller denies Common

Common had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home to a powerful Eastbourne United AFC side which means they are just behind leaders Steyning Town on goal difference having picked up 16 points from eight matches.

Eastbourne took a sixth minute lead through Ryan McBride’s deflected strike after the visitors got to the byeline on the right, but Common equalised just seven minutes later via a cracking 30-yard shot from the impressive Dom Bristow which went in off the crossbar.

Away captain Shaun Loft had a goal disallowed for offside during a strong five-minute spell for Eastbourne towards the end of the first half, while Common midfielder Sam Brown rattled the underside of the crossbar with a terrific effort from outside the box 12 minutes into the second period.

Eastbourne wasted a golden opportunity to go back in front on 65 minutes as McBride blazed a penalty over the crossbar after Jason Taylor went to ground under the challenge of Jerome Smith.

The home side hit the front nine minutes later as Jamie Crone marked his first Common appearance of the season by lashing a terrific left-foot shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the box.

Common couldn’t hold on, though, because Taylor buried a McBride lay-off into the corner from inside the box. Eastbourne almost nabbed a winner in the fourth minute of added time when Loft whistled a shot just wide following a Casey Ham corner.

Common: Saunders, Bachellier, J. Smith, Eldridge, McEniry, S. Mote, Lusted (A. Smith), Brown, Crone (Hill), Bristow (McMinigal), Denny. Subs not used: Cooper, Richardson.