Ebbsfleet United 0 Oldham Athletic 0 match report: Fleet begin post-Dennis Kutrieb era with entertaining draw against Latics

Ebbsfleet began life without Dennis Kutrieb by collecting a point against Oldham on Saturday.

It was a vastly-improved display from the Fleet, who deserved to take all three points in their first game since Kutrieb was sacked.

But they had to settle for an entertaining draw, although this should serve as a major confidence booster for the squad.

Ebbsfleet made two changes from the team that lost 1-0 at Oxford City last weekend, a match which proved to be the last of Kutrieb’s tenure. In came Toby Edser and Declan Skura for Craig Tanner and Mustapha Olagunju.

Oldham arrived on the back of five successive away wins in the National League and, with seven victories on their travels this season, had accumulated more points away than they have at home.

It was evident from the first minute that interim coach Danny Searle wanted his team to play with plenty of energy and it was hard to remember the last time home supporters witnessed their side get through so much running, especially on the back of some lethargic first 45 minutes of late.

There were a few nervy moments. Not least in the first five minutes when Fleet keeper Mark Cousins had to head clear on the edge of his own box before then fouling James Norwood as he took to long to clear.

One criticism of Kutrieb’s era was the lack of long-range shots and Omari Sterling-James showed inside the first 10 minutes that they were encouraged to go for goal, collecting a half-cleared corner before seeing his 30-yard effort comfortably saved.

Oldham immediately responded through Joe Garner, who dragged his shot wide of the upright.

A swift Ebbsfleet counter-attack saw Cousins’ throw send Sterling-James clear down the right and his early cross eventually fell for Rakish Bingham, who