Barry Cogan and Terry Dixon celebrate Cogan's equaliser as Dover and Eastbourne Borough shared the spoils at Crabble. Picture: Wayne McCabe

Dover Athletic were forced to settle for a point by a stubborn Eastbourne Borough team in Blue Square Bet South at Crabble on Boxing Day.

The hosts took a while to impose themselves on the match and fell behind when former Dartford and Tonbridge man Carl Rook beat Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz on 17 minutes.

However, after the interval Whites found their rhythm and after a lightning break from their own half, new boy Terry Dixon eventually played in Barry Cogan to put them back on level terms shortly after the hour.

Despite pressing for a winner in the final 30 minutes, however, Nicky Forster’s men were unable to snatch a winner and remain sixth, four points off the play-off positions at the turn of the year.