Ebbsfleet 0 Rushden 3

EBBSFLEET United failed to put any pressure on the Blue Square Premier play-off contenders after a 3-0 defeat against Rushden & Diamonds at Stonebridge Road on Tuesday night.

The visitors struggled to create much during the opening period but scored against the run of play when a mistake by former Diamonds defender Peter Hawkins allowed Jon Challinor to cut inside the area and fire into the top left corner.

In the second half, Rushden should have doubled their lead on 52 minutes when Tom Shaw floated a free-kick towards the back post, but Michael Corcoran put his header wide.

Fleet manager Liam Daish introduced Luke Moore and Raphael Nade in an effort to get back into the game but, in truth, they never looked like scoring in front of just 546 fans, their lowest crowd of the season.

Diamonds secured the points in the 81st minute when substitute Michael Rankine swept home Andy Gooding’s cross and they added a third in time added on through Lee Tomlin.

Ebbsfleet manager Liam Daish said: “We needed more players to take more responsibility and not be afraid to fail. We needed to be bolder and braver, but we weren’t, we were flat."