Hornchurch 1 Ebbsfleet 0 match report: National League South game settled by late goal from Angelo Balanta

Ebbsfleet’s winning run came to an end at promotion rivals Hornchurch on Saturday.

A controversial late goal by Angelo Balanta proved the difference between two sides in a contest that never looked like it was going to be a flood of goals.

Ebbsfleet made two changes from the side that beat Dover on Monday, reverting to the line-up that won at Tonbridge on Good Friday, with Ben Coker and Kwesi Appiah back in.

Former Fleet favourite Dominic Poleon started for Hornchurch, who made three changes from the side that lost 5-4 at Maidstone on Monday. Henry Sandat, Balanta and ex-Ebbsfleet winger Myles Weston replaced George Alexander, Charlie Pegrum and Makai Welch.

Not surprisingly, given their defensive shortcomings at the Gallagher, Hornchurch started like a team keen not to concede with numbers behind the ball.

Poleon had an early effort well over the bar and Sandat had a long-range shot deflected wide. Fleet were indebted to a timely Tom Dallison clearance on 18 minutes after Balanta headed back a deep Weston cross.

Weston’s free-kick hit the bar while Coker’s effort landed just wide of the far post at the other end.

Having defended against a strong wind in the first half, the Fleet had it in their favour after the break.

They went close to nudging ahead on 55 minutes when Tom Dallison’s header was brilliantly kept out by keeper Arthur Nasta. Then Seaman worked his way along the byline, but his pull back was put over the bar by Coley.

At the other end, Giles Phillips volleyed wide from a left-wing corner and then Tom Wraight’s corner was headed off his own line by Appiah.

Ebbsfleet looked the better side after the break and the more likely to score but they were unable to add a cutting edge to their game.

Substitute Samuel