Bottom side Ebbsfleet’s winless run extended to seven games despite a late fightback against fellow strugglers Wealdstone on Saturday.
With a third of the season now completed, the Fleet are eight points from safety having bagged just one National League win in 16 matches.
Despite scoring twice in the last four minutes, they may look back at this one as a big opportunity missed.
Ebbsfleet made three changes from the side that lost 3-1 at Forest Green in midweek as Wes Fonguck, Franklin Domi and Rakish Bingham replaced Louis John, Jim Kellermann and Craig Tanner.
It meant a front two of Aaron Cosgrave and Dominic Poleon for the hosts, the former looking particularly lively in the early exchanges which included one excellent run from near the halfway line after just eight minutes, but his cross failed to pick out a team-mate for what would have been a tap-in.
Tom Dallison was unable to get a Josh Wright free-kick on target before Franklin Domi led a three-on-three break but Poleon’s shot was well blocked by Mason Barrett.
Wealdstone’s only effort at the other end saw Christian Scott shoot wide from 25 yards on 26 minutes but their cause was not helped when injury forced off both Craig Eastmond and Barrett in the first half.
The visitors made a third change at the break and it was Ebbsfleet who started the better in the second half.
It took a matter of seconds for Cosgrave to have the first shot on target, although his 20-yard effort lacked enough power to trouble keeper Sam Howes.
But it was Wealdstone who went ahead on 57 minutes. Max Kretzschmar’s corner somehow found its way to Sam Ashford, who turned the ball home from a yard out.
The momentum of the game shifted and Wealdstone took control as Fleet’s already fragile
Football
Gravesham Sport
Non League
Ebbsfleet Football
Matthew Panting
Craig Tanner
Dominic Poleon