BELFAST (Interstat) — Berkhamsted and Eastbourne United played to a 1-1 draw Sunday at The Oval in an FA Cup fixture that saw both sides trade second-half goals after a tightly contested opening period.

Zac Sapsford opened the scoring for Berkhamsted in the 27th minute, finishing after a buildup that included a pass from Samuel Harding, who was credited with the assist. Harding entered the match as a substitute and also received a yellow card in the 20th minute for a late challenge. Berkhamsted carried the 1-0 lead into halftime.

Eastbourne United responded in the 69th minute when Jake Young found the net to level the match. The goal came after sustained pressure from the home side, who had controlled much of the second half. The result left both teams with a point in the competition standings.

The draw moved Berkhamsted’s record in the FA Cup this season to two wins, one loss and one draw. Across all competitions, Berkhamsted stands at two wins, three losses and two draws. Eastbourne United’s FA Cup record now stands at one win, two losses and one draw, matching its overall mark of one win, two losses and one draw this season.

Berkhamsted entered the match after a string of mixed results. In its most recent FA Cup outing, Berkhamsted drew 1-1 with North Leigh after extra time on Jan. 10. Prior to that, it lost 1-0 at Cray Valley Paper Mills FC on Oct. 4, lost 3-0 at Billericay Town on Sept. 13, and won 2-0 at Saint Ives Town on Aug. 30.

Eastbourne United had a heavy defeat in its last FA Cup appearance, falling 9-0 to Sheppey United on Aug. 16. That loss followed a 4-1 victory over East Grinstead on Aug. 2.

Discipline was a factor in the match, with two yellow cards issued. Harding’s booking came early, and Ryan Strain of Eastbourne United was cautioned in the 60th minute for a tactical foul. No red cards were shown, and both teams finished with 11 players.

The game was played at The Oval, a venue normally associated with cricket but hosting football for this FA Cup tie. The result ensures that both teams remain in the competition, with Berkhamsted holding a slightly better record.

The Interstat game simulator projected a final score of 1-1 prior to the match. The Interstat ELO system gave Eastbourne United a 63.70 percent probability to win.