Maidenhead United 2 Ebbsfleet United 1 match report: Harry Watling’s side remain bottom of the National League

Ebbsfleet remain rooted to the bottom of the National League after losing at fellow strugglers Maidenhead on Tuesday night.

It’s now eight losses in 11 league games for the Fleet and a second successive defeat for new boss Harry Watling.

Ebbsfleet made two changes from the side that lost at Sutton on Saturday. Striker Dominic Poleon and Sha’mar Lawson replaced Lewis Page and Will Randall, who both dropped down to the bench.

Maidenhead went close early on when Nathan Ferguson headed wide from a Reece Smith free-kick. Then a weak defensive header by the hosts’ Miles Welch-Hayes presented an opening for Fleet’s Rakish Bingham but his shot lacked enough power to trouble keeper Craig Ross.

Neither team were keeping the ball particularly well, often coughing up possession without too much pressure being put on them.

The Fleet created an opening when Franklin Domi, playing at left-back, picked out Poleon but his low cross-shot was well gathered by Ross.

They should have gone ahead just before the half-hour when Ben Chapman’s corner eventually fell to the feet of Lawson but he couldn’t get a decent enough shot away.

Ebbsfleet’s best chance arrived on 35 minutes when Bingham picked out the unmarked Wes Fonguck but he sidefooted over the bar from 12 yards out when it seemed easier to score.

They were made to pay just five minutes later when Maidenhead went ahead. Bingham gave the ball away cheaply near halfway and Smith surged forward into the box, his cross was only cleared as far as Tristan Abrahams who expertly slotted home.

Greg Cundle replaced Lawson in the second half but the Fleet’s fortunes didn’t get any better as they went 2-0 down on 56 minutes.

The assistant referee penalised Tom Dallison’s challenge on Shawn