Ebbsfleet United 1 Tonbridge Angels 0 match report: Dominic Samuel scores winner in National League South Boxing Day derby

Ebbsfleet made it back-to-back one-nil victories with a Boxing Day derby triumph over Tonbridge.

A second-half goal from Dominic Samuel proved the difference between the sides, who had both largely cancelled each other out.

The Fleet made one change from last weekend’s win at Chelmsford with Ronny Nelson replacing Tom Dallison while Tonbridge were unchanged from the side that drew with Dagenham.

It was the Angels who settled the quickest with Tom Leahy’s early shot lacking power before a near-post Noah McCann corner had to be punched clear by keeper Matt Hall.

Naz Bakrin then beat the offside trap but his attempted lob landed on the roof of the net.

Ebbsfleet’s first clear opening came on 27 minutes when good pressure by Josh Coley forced Ethan Sutcliffe’s backpass to sell his keeper short. Dominic Samuel reacted quickest but Laurie Shala did well to save at his feet as the Fleet striker attempted to go round him.

At the other end a late Christmas gift from Mustapha Olagunju nearly presented Angels with the opener as he played in Bunmi Babajide, who went clean through but his shot lacked any power to trouble Hall.

Ebbsfleet finished the half on top. A clever backheel from Charlie Seaman set up Lennon Peake but his left-foot drive went wide of the far post.

Within a minute, Lennon’s deep cross returned the favour as it picked out Seaman but his right-foot volley was beaten away by Shala.

Then Passley did well to reach a long ball forward and set up Coley, whose first-time right-foot shot went just wide.

Tonbridge had chances early in the second half, former Fleet man Sean Shields firing a cross ahead of Ricky Korboa, who then shot wide from the edge of the area.

The visitors lost Shields to injury just before the hour