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Ebbsfleet United 1 Barrow 0 match report

Danny Kedwell scored the winner as Ebbsfleet scrapped to victory over Barrow on Saturday.

The visitors dominated and must be wondering how they left Stonebridge Road empty-handed.

But it's now four matches unbeaten for Fleet, who are up one place to 15th in the National League.

Danny Kedwell is congratulated by Kenny Clark Picture: Andy Jones
Danny Kedwell is congratulated by Kenny Clark Picture: Andy Jones

Andy Drury, back after a calf problem, replaced Ebou Adams in the centre of Fleet's midfield but Dean Rance (ankle) missed out again while Jack King and Michael Cheek didn't even make the bench.

Barrow arrived having lost four in a row and boss Ian Evatt made six changes before being forced into another during the warm-up. Josh Granite, having been drafted in at centre-half, was replaced by Kyle Jameson while Wayne Rooney's brother John started in midfield.

Chris Bush's free-kick forced a smart save from Joel Dixon in the second minute but after that Barrow controlled the first half.

They won first balls, second balls, used the ball better than Fleet and were able to take up good positions far too easily.

Josh Kay's shot from distance was easily gathered by Nathan Ashmore before Dave Winfield made a timely block when Esteves De Sousa got away from Bush down the right.

When Drury lost the ball in midfield, the Bluebirds got numbers forward and De Sousa shot narrowly wide when the ball reached him at the far post.

Corey Whitely on the ball Picture: Andy Jones
Corey Whitely on the ball Picture: Andy Jones

Barrow's shooting was letting them down as De Sousa and Rooney both failed to hit the target from distance.

The home side were struggling to string three passes together although Myles Weston showed his man a clean pair of heels and created a good opening midway through the first half. Weston pulled the ball back to the edge of the box and Corey Whitely turned his man but shot over.

Barrow, though, looked the far more likely scorers. Rooney fired into the side netting after a well-worked short corner and Sam Magri scooped the ball over his own crossbar after the Bluebirds had passed their way through yet again.

Ashmore made a great save when Magri, again, diverted a cross towards his own goal but the ease with which Rooney played in De Sousa down the right was worrying.

So it was completely out of the blue that Ebbsfleet took the lead 10 minutes before half-time.

Bush's long throw was missed by Jameson and Kedwell pounced, shooting low across Dixon and finding the far corner with a precise finish.

Myles Weston gets down the right Picture: Andy Jones
Myles Weston gets down the right Picture: Andy Jones

Still the visitors looked the better side, though, and Fleet were lucky De Sousa missed his kick at the vital moment after picking Bush's pocket in the penalty area.

The pattern continued in the second half, with the home side wasteful in possession and Barrow peppering the box with crosses.

Fleet simply couldn't keep the ball and Kenny Clark was forced into a number of vital blocks as the pressure mounted.

At the other end, Kedwell turned and drilled a low shot wide but Ebbsfleet continued to live dangerously as nerves spread around Stonebridge Road.

The hosts' defending became increasingly desperate and when they did clear their lines, the ball came straight back with interest.

Had their finishing been better, Barrow would surely have taken a point at least, but they simply didn't work Ashmore enough.

Three players were booked deep in stoppage-time after players from both sides piled into an ugly melee but Fleet survived nine added minutes to claim only their second home league win of the season.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Magri, Winfield, Clark, Bush, Weston, Payne, Drury (Adams 47mins), Coulson (Wilson 89mins), Whitely (Shields 78mins), Kedwell. Subs not used: Miles, McQueen.

Barrow: Dixon, Brown, Wilson, Jameson, Norrington-Davies, Rooney, Taylor, Carroll-Burgess, De Sousa, Hindle, Kay (Mulholland 66mins). Subs not used: Barthram, Sloan, Firth, Molyneux.

Attendance: 1,277.

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