Halifax 1 Ebbsfleet 0

Lance Cronin saved a second half penalty but it wasn't enough to prevent 10-man Ebbsfleet slipping to a narrow defeat at Blue Square Premier strugglers Halifax on Thursday night.

The only goal of the game came 20 minutes from time when Danny Forrest set up Simon Heslop to finish high beyond Cronin from outside the box.

It was harsh on the Fleet stopper who had earlier tipped Jon Shaw's spot-kick round the post after a foul by Darius Charles on Lewis Killeen.

Ebbsfleet were already down to 10 men by then after the dismissal of Sacha Opinel in the 28th minute for a professional foul on Anthony Griffin.

Griffin himself had been at the centre of controversy a few minutes earlier when Stacy Long's shot appeared to strike his hand, but the referee waved away the Fleet's penalty protests.

Liam Daish's side will have to pick themselves up ahead of another away day on Saturday at already-relegated Droylsden. Opinel will be suspended after his red card.

Ebbsfleet: Cronin, Ricketts, Smith, Charles, Opinel, McPhee, Bostwick, Long (Hearn 65), Barrett (Nade 65), Purcell (Bull 32), Moore.

Subs not used: Hawkins, Mott.

Attendance: 1,063.