Ebbsfleet United missed out on a chance to leapfrog Hemel Hempstead Town in the Conference South after the two teams could only draw 2-2.
With the fleet winning only three of their last nine games it was important for Jamie Day’s side to get all three points if they were to restart their playoff push. Just one point separated them and their visitors to Stonebridge Road; with one game in hand, Hemel Hempstead were on a different run of form, having lost just two games in 2015.
Day made two changes from the Ebbsfleet side who lost 1-0 at home against Bromley two weeks previously, Matt Godden took the place of Brendan Kiernan in attack whilst Matt Fish replaced Kenny Clark, who began his three game suspension after being sent off when the Fleet were knocked out of the FA Trophy. Preston Edwards, making his 200th appearance for the hosts, began in goal for a side in which none of the starting eleven started in the last game between the two sides just four month earlier.
With the visitors applying the early pressure, it was the Tudors who took the lead just five minutes into the game when a cross from the left was met by a free header from Oliver Hawkins who, with Preston Edwards off his line, was able to loop his effort over the goalkeeper to score an early goal.
Ebbsfleet came back and began to produce chances of their own, first a close show from Danny Kedwell was well save before the ex-Gillingham striker put an effort from distance wide.
But soon Ebbsfleet were back in the game when Sean Shields’ weaving run ended in a low cross towards Kedwell who slid in at the near post to level the game.
This goal game the hosts some confidence and moments after he scored his fourth goal for Ebbsfleet he nearly got another after Laurie Walker’s clearance from outside the area fell to the attacker who was only able to hit his volley wide of the target.
The fast paced first half continued with both sides being given good chances to come forward but before half time a mistake from Hemel’s Moussa Diarra gave Ebbsfleet a chance to go 2-1 up. Diarra was unable to clear the ball under pressure from Matt Godden, allowing the Ebbsfleet attacker to scoop up the loose ball and steer his shot past Laurie Walker meaning Ebbsfleet were able to go into half time one goal up.
The second half began in a similar style to the first- with the visitors getting a goal. After Kelvin Langmead fouled Oliver Hawkins just outside the penalty area Jordan Parkes stepped up to curl a free kick over the wall and out of the reach of Preston Edwards.
A series of Ebbsfleet free kicks followed with Adam Cunnington giving his side two chances to go ahead again. The first clipped the crossbar before looping out of play and the second- from a similar position- was powered just wide.
The second half continued with both teams looking to score the goal which may end the game, but as time ran out the best chance for either side came from Ebbsfleet’s Alex Osborn when, after taking the ball on the left wing from a counter attack, the substitute cut inside but his low shot rolled into the arms of Laurie Walker meaning the game finished with neither team getting all three points.
That result means that Ebbsfleet remain in 9th place but with two teams above them only having one extra point, there is still a chance for Jamie Day’s team to make a late push for the playoffs and Day was quick to emphasise the importance of the return of Matt Godden and Alex Osborn among others “It’s good to have them back, it gives us options and hopefully bringing them back won’t trigger the injuries to came back”.
The Fleet will now prepare for their visit to first placed Bromley, the current club of former Fleet fans favourites Anthony Cook and Ben May.
Ebbsfleet United: Edwards, Fish, Jefford, T Lewis, Langmead, Bonner, Godden (Gower), S Lewis, Kedwell (Rance), Cunnington, Shields (Osborn)
Subs not used: Pooley, Acheampong
Hemel Hempstead Town: Walker, King, Brown (Banton), Parkes, Hyam, Diarra, Oli, Harriott (Connolly), Hawkins, Asfu- Adjayi, Potton (Johnson)
Subs not used: Kabamba, Head