Ebbsfleet United 0 Forest Green 2

EBBSFLEET United lost ground on the Blue Square Premier play off places after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Forest Green Rovers at Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

Fleet went close to opening the scoring on 10 minutes when Stacy Long fired in a thunderous 25-yard free kick which flew just over Ryan Robinson's bar.

The visitors had chances of their own and on 18 minutes Simon Clist found himself in space in the box, but his shot was well saved by Lance Cronin.

Rovers looked a constant threat on the break and the game's opening goal came on 40 minutes when an Alex Lawless through ball found Stuart Fleetwood in space on the right, the striker making no mistake as he fired low past Cronin.

In the second half Rover's doubled their lead after just two minutes when Fleetwood raced onto a pass from Jamie Pitman before taking the ball round Cronin and slotting into an empty net.

In truth, the Fleet struggled to get going but almost pulled a goal back on 72 minutes when Raphael Nade saw his header from a long corner tipped over the bar by Robinson.

Ebbsfleet: Cronin, McPhee, McCarthy, Smith, Opinel, Bostwick, Barrett (Ricketts 66), Long, Moore, Eribenne (Coleman 53), Nade.

Subs Not Used: Mott, Maskell, Goodhind.

Attendance: 930.