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Eastleigh 0 Ebbsfleet United 1 match report

Ebbsfleet recorded their third straight National League win away to Eastleigh on Bank Holiday Monday.

Danny Kedwell scored the winner in Hampshire, where the home side played for more than half the game with 10 men.

Fleet missed several great chances to add to their lead but had to stand firm in defence as the Spitfires threw everything they had at the visitors.

Danny Kedwell (left) scored for Ebbsfleet at Eastleigh Picture: Andy Payton
Danny Kedwell (left) scored for Ebbsfleet at Eastleigh Picture: Andy Payton

Ebbsfleet, having beaten Aldershot 3-1 on Saturday, were unchanged at the Silverlake Stadium. Corey Whitely kept Luke Coulson out of the side in midfield while boss Daryl McMahon stuck with his back three of Dave Winfield, Jack King and Sam Magri.

Eastleigh's injury problems meant they were only able to name three substitutes. One of the four changes made by Hessenthaler was in goal, where Ross Flitney came in for Graham Stack.

After a cagey opening Fleet started to get their foot on the ball with Andy Drury looking to pull the strings in midfield. Kedwell slid a pass into Whitely's path but he dragged a low shot across the face of goal and wide.

But Eastleigh came within inches of taking the lead when Michael Green's inviting cross was thumped against the crossbar by James Constable. His volley crashed down on the goal line with Nathan Ashmore beaten and Fleet survived the scramble which followed.

Alex Wynter and Danny Hollands both had their names taken by referee Lloyd Wood but the Spitfires were getting on top.

When Mark Yeates was fouled by Dean Rance near the corner flag, he whipped the free-kick low to the near post and Paul McCallum touched the ball through Ashmore's legs but Ebbsfleet were saved by the offside flag.

Hollands then split the visitors' defence with a straight ball down the middle and Ashmore had to rush out and take the ball off McCallum's toe.

Mr Wood's eagerness to get his cards out continued when Adams challenged Flitney for a bouncing ball in the penalty area. Adams' foot was raised but the fact even Flitney pleaded for leniency should surely have convinced the referee to take no further action.

But out came the yellow card and Mr Wood was reaching for his red moments later. Wynter caught Adams late on the touchline and, having effectively backed himself into a corner, Mr Wood simply had to send the former Maidstone player off.

That undoubtedly changed the game as Fleet began to press the 10 men back. They passed the ball patiently, looking for an opening and Kedwell had a shot blocked on the line.

Kedwell did break the deadlock in first-half stoppage-time, turning sharply and firing low beyond Flitney after the visitors had probed on the left-hand side of the penalty area.

With Adams on a caution and Mr Wood in card-happy mood, Daryl McMahon withdrew the midfielder at half-time and Coulson entered the fray.

The home fans were on their feet five minutes into the second period, celebrating what they believed was the equaliser. But McCallum, having been played through by Yeates, had only found the side netting with his powerful shot.

At the other end, Myles Weston's teasing cross reached Kedwell but Flitney did well to spread himself and keep the ball out.

It should have been 2-0 moments later when Eastleigh gifted possession to Drury and he played Rance into space just outside the box. Rance in turn passed to Coulson but his shot was well saved by Flitney.

And the home side almost levelled the scores when McCallum's towering header from a Yeates corner was clawed out by Ashmore. The ball was almost diverted into the net by a red shirt when the follow-up cross came in and Yeates then tested Ashmore from distance.

Play continued to ebb and flow and Coulson forced another fine save from Flitney just as his shot looked destined for the top corner.

Drury blazed over from Magri's cutback and Coulson then hit the post at the end of a sublime Ebbsfleet passing move which cut Eastleigh wide open.

But while it was still only 1-0 the 10 men were right in the contest. They started to build up a real head of steam and Fleet had to stand firm as the game entered its final 15 minutes.

McCallum fed substitute Oliver Dennett and he extended Ashmore at the near post. King then blocked James Constable's goalbound shot as the home fans sensed an equaliser.

The visitors, though, should have wrapped things up at the other end. Kedwell sent Coulson clean through again but his left-footed shot rolled across the face of goal and wide.

Drury forced another save from Flitney and Yeates volleyed just wide as both sides gave it everything in the closing stages.

Three minutes from time, Fleet had a great chance to break and Shields did play Coulson clear down the middle but Eastleigh got back in the nick of time to prevent a goal.

Eastleigh: Flitney, Hare, Green, Gobern (Dennett 59mins), Constable, McCallum, Yeates, Boyce, Wynter, Miley, Hollands. Subs not used: Baughan, Bearwish.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Winfield, King, Magri, Rance, Drury, Shields, Adams (Coulson 46mins), Whitely (Powell 67mins), Weston (Bush 76mins), Kedwell. Subs not used: Cheek, McQueen.

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