Ebbsfleet United 2 Rochdale 2 match report: Ben Chapman and Rakish Bingham score to rescue National League point

Ebbsfleet staged a stirring second-half comeback to rescue a point in National League South on Saturday.

Manager Harry Watling looked to be heading for a fourth straight defeat in charge but two goals in three second-half minutes was enough to claim, what appeared after an hour, an unlikely point.

Ebbsfleet, as they did against Oldham, set up to keep themselves in the game in the first half. But, unlike last week, they trailed 2-0 at the break after a first half dominated both in possession and territory by Rochdale.

Ebbsfleet failed to register an attempt on target, the closest they came was a Craig Tanner free-kick from nearly 30 yards which hit the defensive wall.

At the other end, Rochdale were slick and decisive although it took them 13 minutes to test keeper Mark Cousins who did well to keep out Jake Burger’s hooked effort after quick thinking from Connor McBride at a throw-in.

Leon Aykinde then turned Tanner in midfield and played in Kairo Mitchell but he slid his left-foot shot wide of the far post.

Rochdale went ahead on 37 minutes, the excellent McBridge driving across the penalty area before setting up Tarrayn Allarakhia, who found the top corner with a stunning right-foot shot.

Ebbsfleet’s task became even harder on the stroke of half-time. They gifted Rochdale the ball when Tom Dallison got into a muddle from a short goal kick, the ball eventually being recycled to McBride to slot decisively beyond Cousins.

Manager Harry Watling made a double change at the break with Rakish Bingham and Sha’mar Lawson replacing Dominic Poleon and Greg Cundle.

While the Fleet stemmed the wave of attacks from the visitors they didn’t look like getting back into the game until a moment of brilliance from Ben Chapman.

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