A league high 1,998 fans witnessed a Kent derby low on chances but high in endeavour that was won courtesy of a 30 yard wonder strike by Matt Godden, giving Ebbsfleet a precious three points that they hope will contribute to a late playoff charge.

For Bromley the defeat allowed Boreham Wood to pull to within one point of the Conference South leaders, albeit the Ravens still have two games in hand.

The match got off to a frantic opening with the Ravens first going close with a Jamie Slabber effort that was blocked on the line by Dean Rance. In the ensuing melee no Bromley player was able to force the ball over the line.

Bromley were to rue that missed opportunity as from the clearance Sean Shields beat the on-rushing Alan Julian to the ball, with Julian exposed and well out of his goal on the right touchline, Shields was able to cross into the penalty area and with the Bromley defence out of position Adam Cunnington beat two defenders and curled a fine effort past the despairing dive of Julian.

Ebbsfleet took confidence from that early lead and proceeded to boss play for the next ten minutes. In the tenth minute Sean Shields should have put the ‘Fleet two goals ahead, with the Bromley backline looking shaky, Shield broke clear and cut inside his defender only to see his effort rebound off the base of the post and to safety.

Slowly the game settled down and over the remainder of the half the game took on something of a chess match, chances were at a premium and it was from the only other real chance of the half that Bromley equalised.

Joe Anderson crossed into the box from a cleared corner and Jamie Slabber was on hand to dispatch a fine header into the corner of the net.

The second half saw more of the same with neither side threatening the other and in the process the quality of the game dipped significantly. Spectators were only awoken from their slumber in the 63rd minute when Matthew Gooden served noticed of his intentions, having profited from a defensive blunder Gooden saw his first effort blocked by Jack Holland before his second effort across Julian seemed destined for the net only for Ugo Udoji to clear the goalbound strike.

Three minutes later Gooden was not to be denied, the first to react to a defensive clearance Gooden hit a speculative 30 yard volley that beat a static Julian all ends up and hit the top corner of the net. It was a superlative goal that deserved to win any match let alone this massive Kent Derby.

Once in front, Ebbsfleet set about ensuring they left Hayes Lane with all three points and the pattern of the game changed to attack vs defence. However the Ebbsfleet rearguard extinguished pretty much all that was thrown at them.

Bromley’s best chances came in the 10 minute period after the goal. Firstly good work from Moses Ademola on the edge of the Ebbsfleet area led to his snap shot being spilled by Brandon Hall only for Hall to stand strong and deny Bradley Goldberg’s follow up. Minutes later good work on the right wing by Goldberg freed Danny Waldren whose half-volley hit the crossbar and deflected over.

Bromley created one last chance at the death when Slabber’s knock down in the penalty area was collected by Moses Ademola but his snap-shot on the turn flashed inches wide.

Bromley: Julian, Udoji (Carter 90), Anderson, Prestedge (Birchall 67), McNaughton, Holland, Ademola, Waldren, Slabber, Goldberg, Rodgers (Fuseini 67).

Subs not used: Carter, Brown, Dennis

Ebbsfleet United: Hall, Fish, Jefford, Rance, Langmead, Bonner, Godden, Johnson, S Lewis (T Lewis 85), Cunnington, Shields (Osborn 78).

Subs not used: Edwards, Acheampong, Gower

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