Ebbsfleet United 1 Maidenhead United 1 match report: Dominic Poleon goal cancelled out by Reece Smith

Improved Ebbsfleet remain in the National League relegation zone after being held at home by Maidenhead on Tuesday night.

Dominic Poleon’s ninth goal of the season put the home side ahead in the second half but Maidenhead levelled through a brilliant Reece Smith strike to take a share of the spoils.

Ebbsfleet made five changes from the team humiliated at home by Oxford City on Saturday, with Luke O’Neill, Ouss Cisse, Darren McQueen, Franklin Domi and Ben Chapman all recalled.

Boss Dennis Kutrieb served the first of a two-match touchline ban after picking up his sixth yellow card of the season against Oxford, leaving coach Chris Solly to lead the technical area delegation.

Early mistakes have been Ebbsfleet’s downfall in recent home matches and after a subdued opening 10 minutes they nearly pressed the self-destruct button again when Chapman’s ambitious cross-field pass picked out only Sam Barratt.

The Maidenhead man spotted keeper Mark Cousins off his line but the Fleet custodian was back in time to tip Barratt’s 45-yard left-foot effort over the bar.

At the other end, a well-worked set-piece from Ebbsfleet nearly created the opener but no-one was on hand to turn in O’Neill’s header back across goal from Domi’s deep delivery.

Maidenhead defender James Golding, who spent time on loan from Oxford with Dartford earlier in the campaign, was booked after 18 minutes for hauling down Dominic Poleon as the lone Fleet striker got a rare opportunity to run at the visiting defence.

It was an even contest with neither side creating much of note. Ebbsfleet still tried to play the ball out from defence but there were occasions when they went long, although often without success.

It was another defensive mistake that nearly presented