Ebbsfleet United’s promotion campaign took a knock in the West Country as they fell to a defeat at Weston-Super-Mare. Fleet welcomed back Craig Stone from injury, allowing Joe Howe to move into midfield for the absent Michael West. Long-term injury victim Scott Ginty was also named in the squad as he took his place on the bench.
Fleet started assuredly enough on a bobbly pitch and on 16 minutes led through Calum Willock. But that advantage lasted just three minutes when Kane Ingram pulled one back for the home side and Fleet were on the back foot for a long spell with Sahr Kabba in particular giving the defence plenty of problems.
The young striker was duly rewarded five minutes into the second half when he deservedly fired his side ahead and Nat Pepperell’s 83rd minute goal looked to have wrapped things up for the home team. But Fleet responded when Willock turned Ashley Carew’s cross home three minutes from the end and in a lengthy spell of time added on, Jacob Erskine hit the woodwork in a goalmouth melee.
But it wasn’t enough for a defensively naive Fleet who now travel to Welling hoping to reignite their play-off campaign against local rivals with similar ambitions.
TEAM: Edwards, Stone (Shakes 70), Duncan, Howe, Pooley, Lorraine, Carew, Marwa, Willock, Erskine, Phipp (G Williams 83). Subs not used: Hawkes, Ginty, Easton.
Att: 366
Man of the match v Havant was Calum Willock – vote for your Weston MotM now.
