Ebbsfleet United 0 FC Halifax Town 1 match report: Fifth National League defeat in six games for bottom side Ebbsfleet

Ebbsfleet’s winless start to the National League season continued on Saturday at a windswept Stonebridge Road.

Visitors FC Halifax held on to their third-minute lead despite late pressure from the Fleet who remained rooted to the foot of the National League.

With Ebbsfleet chief executive Damian Irvine confirming that striker Dominic Samuel suffered a broken leg at Braintree on Monday, the hosts were forced into one change.

Dominic Poleon started in his absence and 20-year-old Charles Ondo was named on the bench after joining from Huddersfield.

Spanish-born Ondo was described as a “wide left player” by the Fleet and worked with manager Danny Searle previously, at League of Ireland club Waterford.

Halifax took just three minutes to find the breakthrough as the Fleet fell behind for the fifth time in six league games.

There was an element of fortune as Adan George’s cross was deflected into the path of Jamie Cook but the ball then fell perfectly for the onrushing Angelo Capello to drill into the bottom corner.

Poleon forced a smart stop from keeper Sam Johnson three minutes later before Cook hooked over George’s cross seconds later at the other end.

Halifax’s best moments came through the tricky feet and direct running of Andrew Oluwabori. He skipped past four Fleet defenders on 20 minutes before his shot was blocked, then the ball fell to him in the box but Cousins saved smartly moments later. Oluwabori played in Cook, whose right-foot shot was saved by Cousins.

Ebbsfleet failed to make the most of a three-on-two break as Wes Fonguck overhit his pass.

Then Greg Cundle and Poleon combined to close down keeper Johnson but his blocked clearance fell fortunately for the visitors to clear the danger.

Both sides collected more