Two clubs short on confidence shared the points as Tower Hamlets and Punjab United played out an entertaining game in Barnehurst.

Luke Adams put the visitors ahead in the second minute but Tower Hamlets levelled through Paolo Okeye just passed the hour mark and although both teams had the chance to win it, a draw was probably a fair result.

It could hardly have been a better start for Punjab. Kevin Dompey’s cross was only blocked out as far as Adams and he made no mistake with the goal gaping.

Ryan Jarrett fired over for Punjab from long range before Tobi Tinubu spotted Punjab goalkeeper Max Ovenden out of position and tried to lob into the net but it didn’t have the legs to threaten. Ovenden then struggled to keep out a long range shot from Segun Ikudehinbu and was happy to smuggle it away for a corner.

Okeye headed wide from a Tinubu cross before a Jermaine Anderson free kick beat Ovenden but went out off the post. It wasn’t all one way, though, and Diego Falade fired over after Adam Cuthbert’s free kick came back off the wall.

Adams had the last chance of the half when he spun and shot wide of the near post after good work by Louis Clarke.

Early in the second period, Punjab had a great chance for a second but Adams’ low cross could only be met at full stretch by Clarke and he was unable to keep his effort down.

Substitutes Javara Campbell and Benar Valrada both came close for the hosts before they levelled with the best move of the match. Anderson was sent clear down the wing and he played a great ball into Ikudehinbu who squared for Okeye to fire into the bottom corner.

Ricardo Price then came close to putting the hosts ahead when he somehow reached a loose ball and hooked it back, just missing the far post. He came close again moments later but his low drive was well saved by Ovenden.

Punjab should have gone ahead when George Goodwin headed goal-wards but Adams touched it home from an offside position even though it was going in.

Diego Santana da Silva had a shot saved by Ovenden after an intricate build up before Diego Falade  went down under a challenge from goalkeeper Kevin Manual but was cautioned for diving.

Both teams had half chances as the game moved into stoppage time before the hosts almost claimed their first victory of the season in the last of the additional five minutes. Okoye sent Denilson Carvalho behind and he rounded Ovenden but the angle was tight and he could only clip it into the side netting.

Tower Hamlets: Manual, Tinubu, Anderson, Meade, Sadiqu, Santos (Campbell 45), Dompey (Vaivada 40), Santana da Silva (Carvalho 78), Okeye, Ikudehinbu, Price. Unused subs: Ahmed, Hassan.

Goalscorers: Okeye (62)

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

Punjab United: Ovenden , Beattie, Jarrett, Boora, Brown, Cuthbert, Falade (Badbhagi 86), Sohan Okundaiye 68), Adams, Goodwin, Clarke. Unused subs: Gildea, Mbola..

Goalscorers: Adams (2)

Yellow cards: Cuthbert, Falade

Red cards: None

Referee: Thomas Fennelly

Assistants: Abdulaziz Clol and Paul Taylor

Attendance: