Ebbsfleet United 2 Dartford 2
Nathan Elder heads goalwards as Ebbsfleet
battle Dartford. Picture: Matthew Walker
by Steve Tervet
Nathan Elder scored in the last minute of stoppage-time to earn
Ebbsfleet a dramatic draw against local rivals Dartford on New
Year’s Day.
The Fleet had trailed 2-0 but a draw was no more than their
second-half endeavours deserved.
In truth, Liam Daish’s side had enough chances to win the game
but they came within 30 seconds of losing their second north Kent
derby in the space of a week.
Dartford opened the scoring on 12 minutes. The hosts were caught
sleeping when Ryan Hayes laid a free-kick to Lee Burns in acres of
space and his cross was swept home by Jon Wallis.
Stung momentarily, Ebbsfleet recovered and twice went close
through Elder before Danny Harris had a goal ruled out for offside
at the other end.
Three minutes after the interval, Harry Crawford doubled
Dartford’s lead from close-range but Elder smashed home Liam
Enver-Marum’s pass less than two minutes later to keep the game
alive.
Dartford were under siege for much of the second-half and
goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli saved well to deny Enver-Marum and
Paul Lorraine as the hosts poured forward.
With just seconds on the clock, the Fleet were awarded a
free-kick which Dartford were adamant should have gone their way.
The ball eventually dropped at the feet of Elder, whose instinctive
finish found the bottom corner to spark wild celebrations around
Stonebridge Road.
Victory for Blue Square Bet Premier basement club Barrow at
Gateshead means the Fleet are kept off the bottom only by their
goals-scored record. They host Lincoln City on Saturday while
seventh-placed Dartford, still just a point outside the play-offs,
travel to Alfreton Town.
02/01/13
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