Steve Brown was left frustrated as his Ebbsfleet side drew a blank after dominating large parts of the game at The PHB stadium, Stonebridge Road on Tuesday evening.

Ebbsfleet started the game with the same eleven that won so convincingly away at Farnborough at the weekend with Brandon Hall continuing between the post after the end of Preston Edward’s suspension, with Edwards returning to the bench to watch from the sidelines. Eastbourne started the game with ex Dover man Elliott Charles up front, looking to get one over on the home side yet again.

In an uneventful opening half hour, with both team stifling each others attacks, Ebbsfleet were the first to threatenon 20 minutes when an error from visiting left back Sam Beale, found Ebbsfleet Daryl Mcmahon whose pop shot at goal was unconvincingly clawed behind by the visiting goalkeeper Lewis Carey.

From the resulting corner, Eastbourne cleared and the ball eventually found its way to Richard Pacquette whose volley from 35 yards flew just wide.

The game really was struggling for any flow with both sides wasteful in possession. After a cynical foul on Anthony Cook by Marvin Hamilton, Dean Rance outswinging free kick from the left was headed just wide by Anthony Acheampong flying in at the back post.

Eastbourne slowly grew further into the game and after Sam Beale shot was deflected over, an almighty scramble in the goalmouth occurred from the resulting corner. Ebbsfleet were nearly the makers of their own downfall soon after when Kenny Clark’s back header was inches away from Elliott Charles latching onto it before Brandon Hall clutched at the striker’s feet.

One more attack in the lacklustre first half came from Eastbourne when Elliott Charles cut in from the left, feeding Matt Aldred, whose pile driver from 25 yards was deflected just over the bar.

Into the second half and Ebbsfleet started a lot brighter and Daryl Mcmahon skewed a very ambitious effort word from just beyond the centre circle. Eastbourne bought Hall into a save seconds later when a free kick from Kiran Khinda-John was flicked on twice before Hall smothered at the back post.

In a lively opening 5 minutes of the second half, Charlie Sheringham was to hit the post from an offside position from Anthony cook in swinging cross from the left which had the keeper beaten all ends up.

Ebbsfleet were putting on the pressure in fits and bursts. After great wing play from Anthony Cook, his cross found Billy Bricknell 6 yards out whose shot was miraculously saved by the keeper.

The Fleet were really ramping up the pressure, Bricknell was again to go close with a shot from the edge of the area, The keeper again doing well to save.

Two minutes later, Ebbsfleet had the chance to go ahead from the penalty spot. Cook was bought down in the box by Simpemba but Sheringham’s penalty was too central and comfortably saved by keeper Lewis Carey. Sheringham was again to go close when a through ball was leathered just wide from the edge of the area.

Ebbsfleet were really pressing for a winner as the clock reached 80 minutes but for all their efforts, the goal would just not come. Kenny Clark head over from a corner as the pressure mounted on the visitors.

Eastbourne almost produced the sucker blow when Gavin McCallum’s cross from the left sailed over the keeper and dipped just wide. Ebbsfleet almost grabbed a late winner twice going into stoppage time.

Sheringham’s low cross found Cook whose sweeping shot was blocked en route to goal, the rebound found its way to substitute Matt Godden but his powerful shot was somehow blocked by the Eastbourne defence and over for a corner.

Daryl Mcmahon missed the opportunity to make himself the hero in the last minute of stoppage time with a weak free kick before Anthony Cook fired wide with the last kick of the game.

The second half performance probably merited a goal but Ebbsfleet were left to rue their missed opportunities and had to settle for a point in their quest for promotion out of Vanarama Conference South.

 

Ebbsfleet: Hall, Howe, Palmer, Mcmahon ©, Achaeampong, Clark, Johnson, Rance, Sheringham, Bricknell ( Godden 71), Cook.

Subs not used: Huke, Edwards, Corcoran, Sessegnon,

Eastbourne: Carey, Hamilton, Beale, Aldred, Simpemba ©, Watts, McCallum, Sinclair( Lovett 88), Pacquette (Lok 66), Khinda- John (Foot 82), Charles.

Subs not used:   Worrall, Taylor,

Booked: Hamilton (24), Pacquette (62), Simpemba (69)

Attendance: 944