Ebbsfleet United 0 FC Halifax Town 2 match report

Ebbsfleet’s poor run in the National League continued on Saturday at the hands of FC Halifax.

It’s now just one win in eight games for Dennis Kutrieb’s men after a disappointing display in front of a strong home crowd.

Halifax were dealt an early blow when injury cut short Angelo Cappello’s afternoon and he was replaced by former Dover forward Aaron Cosgrave inside the first five minutes.

Andrew Oluwabori’s 20-yard shot was deflected wide by Haydn Hollis but neither team created much in the opening 20 minutes.

The breakthrough arrived on 23 minutes when Florent Hoti’s deep free-kick was met by Adam Senior and his header evaded everyone in the box, including keeper Mark Cousins, to creep inside the far post.

It was the 10th successive game that the Fleet had conceded, a run going back to the end of August.

Ebbsfleet’s first effort at goal saw Luke O’Neill curl a 20-yard shot narrowly wide and Ben Chapman sent a free-kick over the bar in stoppage time.

At the other end, Hoti’s free-kick was saved by Cousins but chances at either end were at a premium.

Referee Michael Crusham’s laid-back approach didn’t go down well with Fleet boss Dennis Kutrieb, who collected his fifth yellow card of the campaign in the first half after he felt forward Nathan Odokonyero was being fouled.

There were yellow cards for Chris Solly and the visitors’ Jamie Scott, the latter for bringing down Darren McQueen who - despite scoring twice in each of his last two outings - was largely annoymous in the first half.

The Fleet withdrew Hollis at the break, bringing on Omari Sterling-James and changing formation with Franklin Domi moving further forward and Solly further back.

Ebbsfleet had a golden chance to get back on level terms six minutes into the