Ebbsfleet United 1 Chelmsford City 0 match report: Josh Coley scores to claim third National League South win in a row for early leaders

Ebbsfleet hit the woodwork three times during their narrow National League South win over Chelmsford on Tuesday night.

The Fleet made it three wins out of three at the start of the season thanks to a moment of magic from summer recruit Josh Coley with his first goal for the club.

Ebbsfleet made three changes from the side that beat Chippenham last weekend.

With Ben Coker injured, Toby Edser came into the starting XI along with Josh Passley and Kwesi Appiah.

The latter only lasted 17 minutes before injury forced him off with Saturday’s matchwinner Aaron Cosgrave introduced.

Chelmsford adopted a high press and gave the Fleet little time to settle. The visitors were marginally on top, an early shot was blocked and Ricky Holmes shot over when offered space on the edge of the box.

For all their possession, Chelmsford didn’t really force keeper Mark Cousins into serious action and, slowly but surely, Ebbsfleet got stronger as the half went on.

Defender Joe Grimwood was booked for hauling down Coley to stop a quick Fleet counter before George Moncur’s 20-yard shot was comfortably saved by former Ebbsfleet goalkeeper Chris Haigh.

Edser grew into the contest and showed excellent footwork to drive forward away from Taylor Clark, exchanging passes and again calling Haigh into action from the edge of the area.

The midfielder’s corners were also looking dangerous but it was one moment of quality that broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time.

Ben Chapman, Edser and Moncur worked the ball from right to left, picking out Coley who worked himself space and curled a delightful right-foot shot into the far corner.

Coley was booked for a foul early in the second half as Chelmsford looked for an immediate response.

The driving runs of