They say seven days is a long time in football, well so is the Easter Weekend.

After Maidstone and Sutton both won on Saturday, hoping to capitalise on Ebbsfleet’s defeat at Truro, results today went somewhat in Ebbsfleet’s favour, although their lead has been cut to five points tonight with an enthralling 1-1 draw against local rivals Dartford in arguably the biggest North Kent Derby in years.

A genuine moment of skill and power from Matt Godden gave the Fleet the lead on 38, holding off one defender and brushing past a second before planting a shot inside Deren Ibrahim’s near post dive.  The half-time lead was no more than Ebbsfleet deserved, but within two minutes of the restart, Ryan Hayes had restored parity.  Hayes’ initial shot was well saved by Nathan Ashmore, but the Dartford winger followed up to slam a shot into the roof of the net from an acute angle.

Although a late goal would have been cruel on Dartford’s improved second half performance, Danny Kedwell hit the post with seconds remaining, and Ebbsfleet boss, Daryl McMahon thought it would have been no more than his side deserved.  He explained “I don’t think we were very fluent today, possibly a bit jittery, but we created a number of chances, especially late on.  It was one of those games – a local derby, windy, horrible conditions – that could be decided by a mistake, a scramble or a penalty and I thought we looked like the team who would take it, but it didn’t fall for us; we do quite enough.”

“It was a terrific goal from Matty (Godden).  His movement was good and you know that when he gets the ball into the box he will get a shot away.  But we probably had enough chances to win today, and you’ve got to play well to cope with the pressure of chasing promotion.”

“Normally we move the ball well, but it wasn’t quite there.  I think, for the first time this season, we are no longer the team in control of our own destiny.”

Paul Sawyer, Dartford’s assistant manager, standing in for Tony Burman, who was unwell, believed his side earned the point that maintains their promotion playoff push said “I thought we were very solid first half, and a little unlucky to come in one down.”

“It was probably the only time that Ebbsfleet got in behind us, so we said to the lads to be a little braver on the ball, and we were.  I thought we came out and passed the ball a lot better and thoroughly deserved our goal.”

“These games tend to be tight for 60 minutes, so we planned to try to hit Ebbsfleet late on when the game opened up.  And when we did break we always looked as though we could create something. They tried to show Ryan (Hayes) down the line onto his right foot, so he took the shot early and stuck the rebound away really well.”

“Tony (Burman) has always said to the lads to see where we are at the end of March. We’ve finished on a positive note and we’re starting to get players back. We’re starting to get options, so we can give it (the playoff places) a real go in the last month.”

It took just 75 seconds for the first foul in the competitive midfield, but Ebbsfleet definitely looked to be the more adventurous.  Jordan Parkes’ right wing corner was headed goalwards by Anthony Acheampong, only for Lee Noble to head off the line. The header fell to Danny Kedwell, whose cross/shot came back to Acheampong, under pressure, the big defender stabbed his shot over the bar.

Dartford’s backline was being forced into resolute defending to deny Ebbsfleet’s runners, and Matt Godden found space from a Jordan Parkes’ corner, but his header drifted over. The home side’s defence was being caused more problems by the strong wind in the opening exchanges, as a Stuart Lewis backpass was carried away from Nathan Ashmore by the wind, but Dartford couldn’t capitalise on their good fortune.

Lewis brought the first real save out of either keeper, forcing Deren Ibrahim to parry his 30-yard shot over as it dipped towards the crossbar, but although Ebbsfleet were the team forcing the game, they were being met by a solid blue wall of Dartford defenders.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 38th minute, from a route-one ball.  Ashmore’s long clearing kick was flicked on by Aaron McLean into the path of Godden.  The Fleet winger held off Ronnie Vint’s challenge, then cut inside Keaton Wood, before unleashing a powerful left foot shot just inside the right post, that Ibrahim couldn’t reach.

Godden nearly returned the favour for McLean moments later, flicking a long ball into the forward’s path, but McLean’s hooked shot was well saved by Ibrahim low to his right, as the home side dominated the opening half.

The second period could hardly have started in a more contrasting fashion, as with their first attack, Dartford were level. Tom Bradbrook and Danny Harris interchanged passes, before Bradbrook fed a pass out to Ryan Hayes on the right side.

Joe Howe tried to show Hayes the outside, but the Dartford winger shot early, with Ashmore saving well to his left. Hayes was quickest onto the rebound and from a narrow angle, rifled his shot into the roof of the net.

Hayes almost turned creator for Barry Cogan, with a whipped cross from the right giving Cogan the chance to nip in ahead of Kenny Clark, but the Dartford midfielder couldn’t make a clean contact.

Ebbsfleet seemed content to hit Dartford on the break, and both substitutes, first Charlie Sheringham with a delightful touch for Sean Shields, worked the ball out to Godden, whose shot was held at full-length by Ibrahim.

Dartford’s defence almost switched off on 72, allowing Sheringham to get to the by-line, before clipping a cross to an unmarked Godden, but his header drifted wide. While Ebbsfleet seemed to be suffering from the same problems as Harris was able to skip away from Matt Fish on the left touchline, but his eventual shot lacked the power to beat Ashmore.

Cogan had another chance from a Noble freekick headed clear to him on the edge of the box, but his attempted side-foot volley almost hit the scoreboard behind Ashmore’s goal. The midfielder then was released down the right side, but his cross was straight at the Ebbsfleet keeper with players bursting into the area.

Godden had another opportunity with his head with ten minutes remaining, arriving late onto Shields’ cross from the right, but once again the effort was directed at Ibrahim.

There was almost late drama as Godden measured a cross into the Dartford box from the left, which caused panic, and the ball eventually fell close to Kedwell, whose overhead kick beat Ibrahim, but bounced back off the left hand upright. The clearance was only to the edge of the box, where John-Paul Kissock drove in a shot that squeezed past the same post.

EBBSFLEET UNITED: Nathan Ashmore, Matt Fish, Joe Howe, Stuart Lewis (John Paul Kissock 81), Anthony Acheampong, Kenny Clark, Dean Rance, Jordan Parkes (Sean Shields 60), Danny Kedwell, Aaron McLean (Charlie Sheringham 60), Matt Godden.

Subs not used: Tom Bonner, Jonathan Miles

Goal: Matt Godden 38.

Cautions: Stuart Lewis 63, Dean Rance 77, Nathan Ashmore 85.

DARTFORD: Deren Ibrahim, Tom Gardiner, Tom Wynter, Ronnie Vint, Keaton Wood, Lee Noble (George Sykes 83), Ryan Hayes (Jack Simmons 75), Nathan Ferguson, Tom Bradbrook (Becka-Kah Dembele 90+1), Barry Cogan, Danny Harris.

Subs not used: Ben Francis, Joel Mensah

Goal: Ryan Hayes 47.

Attendance: 2,435
Referee: Mr Anthony Serrano
Assistants: Mr Lee Brennan and Mr Daniel Simpson