Grays 1 Ebbsfleet 1

LANCE Cronin preserved a point for Ebbsfleet with a late penalty save after his side had come from behind.

Danny Kedwell had given the hosts a 20th minute lead, but John Akinde levelled deep into the second half.

Paul McCarthy was then shown a red card for deliberate handball when he blocked Gavin Grant’s shot in the penalty area, but Cronin dived low to his left to save Aaron O’Connor’s spot kick.

Grays were looking leapfrog their visitors with a victory, and duly took the lead when striker Kedwell headed home Simon Downer’s right wing cross from inside the six yard box.

Akinde, a second half substitute for Coleman, made Grays pay for missed chances when he collected fellow teenager George Purcell’s pass and drilled past Ross Flitney on 77 minutes.

There was still drama to come, but thanks to Cronin’s heroics Ebbsfleet returned to Kent with a deserved point.