Hemel Hempstead Town 0 Ebbsfleet United 0 match report: National League South stalemate as Fleet lack threat in front of goal

Ebbsfleet played out a goalless draw at Hemel Hempstead on Tuesday night in National League South.

After shipping three goals at the weekend it was a return to the defensive solidity that the Fleet displayed in the opening week of the season.

But this was a game that could have been won with some more attacking intent.

Ebbsfleet made two changes from the side that were defeated at Hampton on Saturday with Ben Coker and Jamie Fielding coming into the starting XI.

It was the visitors who started brightest. Fielding header wide from a dangerous Coker corner and, bar one important clearance by Toby Edser, Ebbsfleet had few alarms as they dominated the opening 20 minutes.

A tactical injury to the Hemel goalkeeper allowed the hosts to alter their shape and they got on top for the rest of the half.

Although they lacked a goal threat, it needed an excellent one-handed save by keeper Mark Cousins to deny Kyran Wiltshire’s header after Samuel Adenola’s cross from the right.

Hemel had the best chance after 51 minutes when another right-wing cross from Adenola found Millar Matthews-Lewis at the far post but he could only put this effort horribly over the bar from close range, thanks largely to an excellent Fielding challenge.

Fielding - along with fellow centre-back Mustapha Olagunju - was one of the few Ebbsfleet players to stand out as too often they seemed to lack the forward impetus required to break through the Hemel defence. On the few occasions they did look to unlock the home backline, the final pass was often overhit.

Fleet boss Josh Wright replaced Edser and Josh Coley just past the hour mark but chances were few and far between with Cousins called upon at the other end to thwart Matthew-Lewis.

Hemel Hempstead: Johnson,