Ebbsfleet United 2 Bromley 3 match report: Dominic Poleon scores twice for Fleet in National League home defeat

Spirited Ebbsfleet gave Bromley a Boxing Day scare before losing at Stonebridge Road on Boxing Day.

After falling behind early on, the Fleet responded in the second half to equalise but the visitors cemented their second place in the league with two goals in nine minutes.

Ebbsfleet made two changes to the team that drew at York on Saturday with Matthias Fanimo and Luke O’Neil replacing Greg Cundle and Toby Edser.

Former Fleet striker Michael Cheek led the line for Bromley while Corey Whitely also started with Myles Weston on the bench.

Ebbsfleet were given an eighth-minute warning when they conceded possession cheaply on the edge of their own box and Whitely somehow turned Olufela Olomola’s square pass wide of the upright.

But it was clearly a warning not heeded as within a minute, the Fleet were again robbed on the edge of the penalty area and Whitely squared for Cheek to score into an open net.

It was a lead that could have been doubled but keeper Mark Cousins did well to save from Josh Pasley after good work by the impressive Olomola, who gave pace to the Bromley attack.

Ebbsfleet finally cleared their heads and came into the contest during the second part of the first half.

Breaking from a Bromley throw-in, Myles Kenlock fed Dominic Poleon, who beat last-man Whitely before seeing his low shot saved by the legs of keeper Grant Smith.

Within a minute Smith was again called into action when he saved low down from Dominic Samuel.

At the other end Cousins pushed behind a fierce Ben Krauhaus effort before Fleet responded again as Luke O’Neill and Samuel both had long-range attempts saved by Smith.

It took Ebbsfleet just eight minutes of the second half to get back on level terms when great work by Ben Chapman down the left