Ebbsfleet United 0 Altrincham 2 match report: National League relegation battle goes to final two games

Ebbsfleet’s National League survival bid will be going to the wire after a luckless display on Saturday.

It was one-way traffic for long periods against play-off chasing Altrincham but somehow couldn’t find a way past keeper Ethan Ross.

The visitors had only four efforts at goal compared to Ebbsfleet’s 22 but fortune was no on their side.

The Fleet made one change from the side beaten at Solihull Moors in midweek with Bryant Bilongo replacing Greg Cundle.

It was a quiet start on and off the pitch, albeit Toby Edser and Billy Clifford had lone-range attempts off target for the home side.

Ebbsfleet nearly went ahead on 22 minutes when Bilongo's backheel set up Myles Kenlock, who picked out Dominic Poleon in the box. Poleon's sidefoot finish beat keeper Ethan Ross but skipper Lewis Baines had the presence of mind to get back on the goalline to clear the danger.

Altrincham lost Justin Donawa, who was stretchered off after a five-minute delay, but it didn't seem to deter them as they scored twice in four minutes.

The first came on 35 minutes when Regan Linney did well down the left before his cross was kept alive by ex-Maidstone man Justin Amaluzor and substitute Alex Newby turned the ball in from close range.

Ebbsfleet nearly equalised when Clifford sent Bingham on his way down the right, racing forward to collect the return box only for the ball to get caught under his feet at just the wrong time.

Altrincham promptly went down the other end and scored a second goal. Amaluzor clearly pulled Kenlock back in front of the assistant referee but no flag was forthcoming and Kenlock's revenge was unwise as he went to ground in the box and Amaluzor won his team a spot-kick. Linney stepped up to fire home the penalty.

The Fleet were