EAST Thurrock were made to rue a number of missed chances as they shared the points with Eastbourne Borough in an entertaining Bank Holiday encounter.

Tom Wraight had put Rocks ahead, but the hosts hit the post twice and missed an open goal before Elliott Romain, who was later sent off, levelled.

Rocks needed a response after Saturday’s defeat at Bath and they started brightly against the south coast side.

The opening goal could have come inside five minutes after an excellent pass from Joe Ellul saw Harry Honesty sprint through. Sports goalkeeper Lewis Carey partially cleared and James Walker’s lofted effort beat the keeper but not Brian Dutton on the line.

Lukas Lidakevicius kept out the speedy Romain soon after, with the goalkeeper also making himself big as the same player hit into the side netting following a defensive mix-up between Michael Clark and Teddy Nesbitt.

It was Wraight that opened the scoring when he beat a man on the edge of the box and curled into the far corner on 15 minutes.

Joe Gardner was kept out by Carey, with Clark nodding over from the resultant corner as the pressure grew.

Wraight hit the post with a header as Rocks grew in confidence and Joe Gardner was well denied by Carey as the game approached half-time.

There was still time for an even better chance, as James Walker missed a golden oppo rtunityas he fired over unmarked from five yards following a counter-attack in which Gardner had hit the post.

Sports started brighter and could have drawn level five minutes into the second-half, but Miguel Baptista’s 20-yard strike hit the post.

But they did level with 25 minutes remaining. A header from Gavin McCallum was picked up by Romain who held off Joe Ellul to fire in at the near post.

But that was as good as his afternoon got, as he was dismissed 15 minutes later after sweeping Ryan Sammons’ legs from beneath him.

Concord Rangers drew a blank against Whitehawk as a host of chances went begging for both sides.

It was a low key start in Brighton, with both goalkeepers called into action although neither effort was in danger of finding the net.

Whitehawk goalkeeper Adri Munoz failed to hold a ball soon after and was lobbed by Harvey Hodd but his goal bound effort was cleared off the line by Albi Llenga.

Up the other end, Danny Mills hit the post with Ben McNamara beaten but Steve Cawley came close up the other end as his header was brilliantly pawed away by Munoz.

But the striker really should have put Concord ahead shortly before half-time when he broke through but hit over when one-on-one.

After the break, Cawley sent another header straight at the goalkeeper with Hodd off target on the hour mark as the missed chances totted up.

But Whitehawk could have nicked it, as Mills sent a late effort off the post but it ended all square.