Phil Babb’s side held the lead for the best part of an hour before two goals in as many minutes late in the game saw the full points depart back to Kent at the final whistle.
United made four changes to the starting line-up after Saturdays defeat which saw Luke Williams, Geoff Mitchell, Anthony Furlong and Tom Bird all return to the starting line-up.
In a frenetic opening ten minutes, both sides went close to taking an early advantage as firstly Luke Williams latched onto a Paul Lorraine clearance, his volley from fully 20 yards just dipping over Preston Edwards’ goal. The Fleet keeper was somewhat fortunate shortly afterwards when he fumbled a Williams cross against Jake Reid only for the ball to bounce wide of the target.
In between these two United efforts, Ebbsfleet created a good opening of their own after Ben May chested down a pass from Anthony Cook to Alex Osborn who hit a swinging drive that only just swerved wide of the upright.
United were soon pressing again, Merrifield’s centre just evaded Mitchell but fell to Anthony Furlonge who whipped the ball across the face of goal but wide of the target. The deadlock was finally broken in the 24th minute, Furlonge burst into the Fleet area on the right, his cross was turned against the woodwork by Mitchell but Jake Reid was first to the loose ball to force it through a crowd on the line.
With United standing firm on their advantage, the only other close shave of the half came in the final minute when a long ball forwards saw Mitchell put Lorraine under pressure, the defenders pass across the edge of the box was weak and picked off by the United striker who saw his effort with the outside of his left foot go agonisingly wide.
Sadly for United the second half was to see the tables turned as it was the visitors who took a hold on the game from the re-start.
Five minutes into the half, United lost possession in the middle of the park, Michael Thalassitis took a touch to the right before hitting a powerful shot that rebounded off Jamie Young’s chest straight to Osborn who shot tamely back to Young.
Just past the hour mark the visitors started to up the pressure but still the United defence held firm. A long punt upfield by Edwards fell to Billy Bricknell who fired wide under pressure from Adam Everitt and within a minute a quickly taken throw-in found Thalassitis who forced Young into a diving save that saw the United keeper push the ball around the post.
With just 15 minutes to play the Fleet should have levelled when Bricknell moved onto a low Chris Sessegnon centre only to scoop the ball over from 10 yards out.
At this point Fleet Manager Steve Brown played what turned out to be his trump card by introducing Stacy Long from the bench because within six minutes he had turned the game on its head albeit with a fair deal of good fortune.
The equaliser itself came from Long who having found himself in the way of a poorly hit Cook shot managed to control the ball and fire past Young from just outside the six yard box.
Within two minutes he had turned provider, United conceded a needless free-kick on the left side, Long’s dangerous kick into the middle was met by Lorraine before being inadvertently headed past his own keeper by Mitchell in his effort to clear.
It really should have got worse for United sixty seconds later when Young miscued a back-pass that rolled to Bricknell on the edge of the box and with the goal gaping he struck his effort so poorly that Young was able to get down and save.
Despite United pushing for a late goal it was not to come as chances that came were from distance and off target and the one time a decent ball into the box caused problems, Edwards fell over his own defender and was awarded a free-kick much to United’s obvious annoyance.
Report by Kevin Watts.
United Man of the Match: Adam Everitt.
Print the Teamsheet: Here.
