Alleged racist abuse marred another trip to Hartlepool United for a Kent side as Ebbsfleet United recorded a smash and grab victory in the North East on Saturday afternoon. 

Despite the hosts maintaining control of the game throughout the afternoon, Gozie Ugwu’s penalty 12 minutes from full time sent the 65 away fans home happy. 

A heated second half saw the Fleet’s Ayo Obileye and Pools manager Dave Challinor being shown red cards after the full time whistle. 

Ebbsfleet were in dire need of three points at Victoria Road and they started well with Ugwu nodding Josh Umerah’s cross against the bar in the opening minute.

This pressure wasn’t to last though, and the hosts soon took control of the game as they looked to maintain their unbeaten home record which stretched back to the opening week of 2020.

Jordan Holmes was kept busy in the Ebbsfleet goal as he held efforts from Luke Molyneux and Mark Shelton.

Molyneux was also dangerous as the half progressed. Just after blasting a shot over the bar, the former Sunderland youngster hit another shot into a teammate’s back, giving Ebbsfleet a chance to regroup at half time. 

The Durham side continued to dominate into the second period in terms of possession, but they struggled to create any real chances until after the hour mark. Holmes was called upon to stop a close range Aiden Keena header before keeping shots from Toure and Moleneux at bay. 

On 75 minutes Ebbsfleet were awarded a penalty when Umerah was tripped from behind by Toure on the edge of the box. 

After a few minutes of discussion between players, stewards and both sets of benches, Ugwu stepped up and cooly slotted the spot kick into the roof of the net. 

Fan angst continued after the kick off with more discussions between a number of people on and off the pitch before the game finally got underway again. Play restarted with a message over the tannoy system warning against racist abuse.

With time running out for Pools to find an equaliser, Ryan Donaldson smashed a well hit effort just over the bar before a long range free kick was held at the second attempt from Holmes in the second of nine additional minutes. 

As time went on, Ebbsfleet did well to maintain possession when they needed it most, seeing out the clock and further frustrating the home fans, one of whom went onto the pitch at full time, starting a mass altercation which saw Obileye and Challinor shown red within the chaos. 

Ebbsfleet United: Holmes, Wilson, King, Grimes, Ekpiteta, McGlashan, Payne (Obileye 74), Timlin, Egan, Ugwu, Umerah (Adeloye 86) 

Subs not used: Palmer, Goddard, Achuba

Hartlepool United: Killip, Liddle, Odusina, Kitching, Featherstone, Donaldson, Shelton (Harker 80), Holohan (Hawkes 85), Molyneux, Toure, Keena

Subs not used: Beeney, Richardson, Mafuta

Attendance: 3,868 (65 away)