Bottom side Ebbsfleet gave title-chasing York a run for their money in the National League on Saturday.

Two second-half goals from the predatory Ollie Pearce settled the contest but the Fleet should have been ahead in the first half but for a controversial call from under-par referee Alan Dale.

Ebbsfleet named the same 10 outfield players from last weekend’s goalless draw at play-off chasing Rochdale.

The one change was in goal where new recruit Lucas Covolan took over with first-choice Mark Cousins sidelined due to concussion protocols and back-up Felix Goddard injured.

Covolan’s high starting position nearly caught him out after five minutes as York’s Ollie Pearce tried his luck from 40 yards but his effort went narrowly over the bar.

Even before a controversial call on the stroke of half-time, the first 45 minutes were dominated not by either side but referee Dale.

The official gave five fouls against the Fleet in the first 13 minutes, including a yellow card for Josh Passley for a trip.

York clearly had the referee’s ear as the free-kicks kept coming and there was even a belated yellow card for Mustapha Olagunju after York’s Marvin Armstrong spent more than 30 seconds talking to the official. It worked.

Pearce fired over again for the visitors from a good opening while Franklin Domi twice shot wide from long range for Ebbsfleet.

Eight minutes before the break, defender Tom Dallison headed back a deep free-kick but Toby Edser’s effort was blocked.

Ebbsfleet thought they’d taken the lead on the stroke of half-time when Passley headed in George Moncur’s corner. But after much delay and having consulted his assistant, the referee ruled it out for offside with a player in front of the keeper, even though he was never going to save the header.

Anthony Stewart joined his team-mates in the referee’s notepad early in the second half but somehow York’s Cameron John escaped further sanction as the game was seemingly being officiated by the league table rather than events on the field.

Covolan beat away Tyrese Sinclair’s 20-yard drive and then denied Pearce from an angle with his legs but York were never dominating like many teams at Stonebridge Road this season.

Passley was rightly replaced on the hour when he looked one foul away from a second yellow card with Kwame Thomas also introduced in attack.

The breakthrough came on 65 minutes. Olagunju fouled Pearce in the box and the former Worthing striker fired home the spot-kick.

Tempers flared minutes later when a strong challenge on Alex Lankshear went unpunished with Fleet boss Josh Wright and a member of the York coaching staff shown yellow cards for their conduct on the touchline.

Dallison headed over a free-kick for Ebbsfleet just moments before York doubled their lead with 13 minutes left. John got behind substitute Ben Chapman and crossed for Pearce to convert from close range.

Ebbsfleet kept battling to the end, to their credit, but they were left to rue what might have been with a better set of officials.

Ebbsfleet: Covolan, Passley (Chapman 60mins), Stewart, Olagunju (Manktelow 81mins), Dallison, Lankshear, Edser (Samuel 78mins), Moncur (Bingham 90mins), Bolger, Domi, Cosgrave (Thomas 60mins). Subs not used: Firth, Aoraha.

York: Male, Howe, Sinclair (Fallowfield 76mins), Hunt, Pearce, Nathaniel-George (Stones 52mins), Armstrong (John-Lewis 52mins), Batty, John (Luamba 89mins), Felix, Fagan-Walcott. Subs not used: Watson, Richardson, Aguiar.

Referee: Alan Dale.

Attendance: 1,745 (492 away).