Martin Ling felt United showed character to come from behind twice at Eastbourne but ultimately missed out on two points.

With the wind and driving rain in their faces, United fell behind in the 15th minute when former U's striker Liam Enver-Marum curled a cross from the left and Sports skipper Paul Armstrong headed home from close range.

The scores were level within six minutes when Robbie Willmott's driven free kick flicked off Ben Austin's head and past his keeper into the net, but the home side restored their lead on 25 when Marum peeled away from his marker to nod the ball in from three yards.

With the wind at their backs for the second half, Brian Saah helped United take full advantage with a goal after just two minutes but the U's were unable to take full advantage as Wayne Hatswell and Robbie Willmott spurned winning opportunities.

"The conditions were terrible out there," said Ling. "It would be nice to get our noses in front for a change but - apart from the other night in the last minute - we always seem to be chasing games at the moment.

"I thought we were the better side in the second half and we had three great chances; that one-on-one for Robbie Willmott and two headers for Wayne Hatswell. He just got beyond the second one and didn't get enough on the first one.

"Both our goals came from set plays and good deliveries so I feel like two points have got away, even though the conditions were difficult and we've come from behind both times," added the U's boss.

"But if you look at their scores, they've drawn their last six so that's now seven on the trot, so they're resolute. We've shown a bit of character but I feel we should have won the game."

Ling was disappointed with the defending that allowed 20th-placed Eastbourne to take the lead twice before the break, saying, "Their goals were too soft for me. It just seems that teams are getting chances too easily from us and we always seem to be chasing the game at the moment.

"The goals were cheap goals from first and second-phase headers when no-one is picking them up, so that's disappointing."

Ling left out leading scorer Chris Holroyd and midfielder Jai Reason for the first time this season and explained, "Both Chrissy and Jai have done everything this season and they've both been away and played for England and I felt like a little bit of a change.

"I looked at the conditions and went with two people up front in Phillips and Crow who are more combative, and Ives has done well in the last couple of games and deserved the nod over Reason.

"I spoke to Chrissy about it and he knows he's been off form a little bit recently, so it's a decision that was made and we're coming away with a point. Was it the right decision? Who's going to know, but as a manager you're paid to make them.

"It's the same as I did with Danny Crow," he continued. "I need to find out about these players, both for this season and beyond. You look for a reaction from them and I think both Jai and Chrissy gave me a positive reaction to being left out of the side."

Ling admitted to being both pleased and surprised that the second half goal came from a previously unlikely source: "That's two for Brian and I don't think he got two in all the years I managed him at Orient! Both our goals came from set plays and once we got that second goal I thought we would go on and win the game with the conditions and the pitch.

"To be honest, we had the chances to do so; Hats had the two chances and Robbie's was the golden chance that got away from us today.

"It's the story of the season so far. I think we're a 'nearly team'; we're nearly good, we've nearly got things right and we nearly always have to chase the game at the moment. I'd like to see us get our noses in front and get a little bit of belief and confidence from that, and show the character to do that."

United are next in action at home to Luton Town in the FA Trophy on Saturday (12.30pm), and Ling may have two of today's missing players available by then.

"Both of the young fullbacks (McAuley and Coakley) have done a decent job again today with Tonkin and Gleeson missing again, and I think they've maybe got a chance of being back for next weekend against Luton.

"We're going into a run of games now that are difficult; our next four are against teams who are probably going to finish in the top five of this league this season.

"We'll worry about the Luton game in the Trophy first and then we go into the other difficult games over the Christmas period, but sometimes I feel we play better against that type of side and we'll just have to show that."

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