A late penalty denied Ebbsfleet all three points as they were forced to settle for a point against Conference South title challengers Boreham Wood.
Still mathematically capable of reaching the playoffs, Ebbsfleet came into the game looking for their first three- game winning streak this season. Two successive wins put the Fleet just seven points away from the playoff positions and, having not lost at home since the 17th of February they looked to continue their momentum into two successive away trips as the end of the season draws nearer. Jamie Day made no changes from his side after their 1-0 win over Wealdstone the previous week.
They would face the top side in the Conference South, Boreham Wood came to Stonebridge Road with the same number of points as second placed Bromley, but remained first on goal difference. Although ex Fleet captain and youth manager Daryl McMahon didn’t play, another former Ebbsfleet player Ricky Shakes began on the right wing.
Despite a quick start neither side was able to take control of the game, the first chance came just after thirty minutes when a Boreham Wood corner from the right was cleared before another cross resulted in a header from Josh Hill being tipped over the bar from Brandon Hall. Ebbsfleet were still looking for a way through the visitor’s tough defence.
This changed with just five minutes of the first half remaining when a long pass forward was headed on by Danny Kedwell into the path of Matt Godden. With nobody around him Godden was able to float in a perfect cross which Adam Cunnington was able to finish at the far post to give Ebbsfleet the lead and the game’s only first half goal.
Ebbsfleet began the second half as the better team and nearly scored a second in the opening attack of the half but Theo Lewis was quickly tracked down by the Boreham Wood defence, who were able to block his effort.
After a brief period of minimal opportunities Ebbsfleet were able to push forward and force a save from James Russell when Luke Rooney won the ball in midfield before playing a ball to the left wing for Danny Kedwell but the striker’s low effort was put wide by Russell.
Boreham Wood came back later with a volley from Matthew Whichelow but his weak effort was saved by Brandon Hall and from the resulting counter attack Adam Cunnington’s long range effort was pushed over by Russell.
The goalkeeper was forced into action again soon after when a corner from Michael West was headed towards goal by Danny Kedwell but, yet again, Russell acrobatically tipped the ball over. Corners continued to threat the visitors and nearly scored again when, after the ball wasn’t cleared, Adam Cunnington pushed a shot just wide.
The Wood soon came back and won a penalty with only four minutes remaining after Charlie Walker was tripped in the penalty area, allowing Ben Nunn to smash the resulting penalty into the roof of the net, levelling the game.
The visitors continued to push late in the game but efforts from Charlie Walker and Junior Morais were unable to find the back of the net, meaning both sides needed to settle for a point in a game where all three would have been preferred by both teams.
Ebbsfleet’s ninth draw of the season keeps them in ninth, but due to other results they are now nine points off the playoff places with only three matches remaining, the first of these games is on Tuesday when they travel to 13th placed Bath City before they are on the road again on Saturday, this time travelling to St Albans.
Ebbsfleet United: Hall, Fish, Palmer, T Lewis, Acheampong, Bonner, Godden, S Lewis, Kedwell (Marsh), Cunnington, Rooney (West)
Subs not used: Clark, Turner, Johnson
Boreham Wood: Russell, Nunn, Herd, Cox, Hill, Reynolds, Shakes (Martin), Thomas, Angol (Walker), Morais, Montgomery (Whichelow)
Subs not used: Garrard, Courtnage
Referee: Mr C Pollard
Assistants: Mr O Morris- Sanders, Mr R Bloy