Ebbsfleet United 3 St Albans City 1 match report: Two-goal Dominic Poleon and Haydn Hollis score for Fleet but Ben Chapman sent off

A frantic match saw 10-man Ebbsfleet beat goalkeeper-less St Albans City on Tuesday in National League South.

The Fleet were already 2-0 ahead through efforts from Haydn Hollis and Dominic Poleon before the away side lost goalkeeper Michael Johnson to injury - with no replacement on the bench - and another player not long after.

Top scorer Poleon added a third before half-time and, despite a poor second period which saw Shaun Jeffers score for the Saints and Ebbsfleet’s Ben Chapman controversially sent off, Fleet held on to win 3-1.

Both teams created half-chances at Stonebridge Road in front of a crowd of 1,145 inside a lively first four minutes. Attacking midfielder Zane Banton whipped in a left-wing cross for the visitors which evaded everyone before a St Albans defender charged down a Kieran Monlouis effort.

Four minutes later, Ebbsfleet’s Chapman went for a spectacular overhead kick, only to hit the side-netting.

More good play in the 10th minute down the home side’s right saw the ball eventually come to Luke O’Neill. He forced Johnson to make a smart save.

Craig Tanner’s in-swinging corner tested the away defence on 15 minutes, as the ball agonisingly went beyond everyone and out for a goal kick.

The Saints looked dangerous at this stage at times themselves, though. Kyran Wiltshire forced a fairly simple save from Fleet keeper Mark Cousins in the 21st minute.

But just three minutes later, Dennis Kutrieb’s men went ahead. Hollis rose highest to flick home another sublime in-swinging Tanner corner for his first competitive goal for the club.

The 28th minute saw a controversial moment as Chapman went to ground, only for referee Abigail Byrne to wave away the penalty protests.

But just seconds later, he fired across a