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Ebbsfleet United 1 Maidstone United match report

There were two unlikely goalscorers as the Kent derby between Ebbsfleet and Maidstone ended in a draw.

Defender Kenny Clark gave Fleet the lead with a terrific finish early in the second half.

But fellow centre-half Will De Havilland earned a point for the Stones with a bullet header.

Fleet's Myles Weston and Maidstone full-back Jack Doyle do battle Picture: Andy Jones
Fleet's Myles Weston and Maidstone full-back Jack Doyle do battle Picture: Andy Jones

De Havilland’s goal wasn’t enough to stop Maidstone slipping into the National League bottom four while Fleet move up to 16th.

Fleet made one change to the side who performed so well at Salford on Saturday, with Ebou Adams replacing Andy Drury, who was out with a calf injury.

Maidstone handed debuts to goalkeeper Grant Smith, following Lee Worgan’s move to Dover, and Rob Swaine in defence, with Alex Finney moving to right-back in place of Seth Nana Twumasi.

There was also a first start for Elliott Romain in a three-man attack, while Michael Phillips came into midfield with Jack Powell unable to play against his old club.

The first half went down as a slowburner with defences dominant, despite willing workers on both sides.

Swaine looked good at the back for the Stones before suffering a recurrence of a calf injury and coming off in the final minute of the half.

At the other end Clark and Dave Winfield looked comfortable with everything that came their way.

Kenny Clark is mobbed after breaking the deadlock Picture: Andy Jones
Kenny Clark is mobbed after breaking the deadlock Picture: Andy Jones

There were few chances to speak of, with Jack Payne’s 20-yard strike for Fleet taken by new keeper Smith at the second attempt.

Sam Magri shackled dangerman Blair Turgott effectively down the left but the Stones skipper did create a couple of chances at the end of the half following good challenges.

First, he dispossessed Ebou Adams and fed Romain, whose shot was comfortably saved by Nathan Ashmore.

Then, he chased back and robbed Myles Weston, with the ball finally ending up with Romain and this time his effort was blocked.

Romain threatened to take advantage of an Ashmore slip just after the break, then substitute Twumasi made amends for a mistake by blocking from Payne after Chris Bush and Luke Coulson combined.

The game was crying out for a moment of quality in front of goal and it came in the form of Fleet centre-half Clark in the 58th minute.

The ball dropped from Bush’s free-kick, after Simon Walton fouled Coulson, and Clark turned and hooked it into the far corner.

Elliott Romain tries to capitalise on a slip by Nathan Ashmore Picture: Andy Jones
Elliott Romain tries to capitalise on a slip by Nathan Ashmore Picture: Andy Jones

It was a lovely finish and almost certainly the best goal he’s ever scored.

It also meant Fleet had finally scored the first goal in a home league game this season - at the ninth attempt.

Fleet had the chance to push on but Maidstone levelled in the 76th minute with De Havilland’s bullet header from a Paxman corner.

That was a first for the Stones, too - the first time anyone other than Turgott had scored a league goal since Harry Wheeler took charge.

Turgott had a couple of shots blocked as Maidstone pushed for a winner but both teams looked happy with a point by the end of four minutes’ injury time.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Magri, Clark, Winfield, Bush, Weston, Payne, Adams (McQueen 86mins), Coulson (Shields 83mins), Whitely, Kedwell. Subs not used: Cheek, Miles, Wilson.

Maidstone: Smith, Finney, De Havilland, Swaine (Twumasi 45mins), Doyle, Walton (Omotayo 64mins), Paxman, Phillips, Romain, Cassidy (Muldoon 88mins), Turgott. Subs not used: McLennan, Durojaiye.

Attendance: 2,003.

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