Stevenage 3 Ebbsfleet 2

Stevenage held off a spirited second half fightback from Ebbsfleet to give themselves a narrow advantage going into next Saturday's FA Trophy semi-final second leg.

The visitors were behind as early as the seventh minute when former Fleet player Andy Drury's cross was converted at the far poast by Stevenage skipper Steve Morison for his 27th of the season.

It was 2-0 in the 32nd minute when Sacha Opinel and Darius Charles both failed to clear and the ball back in was calmly finished off by Lee Boylan.

It should have been three on the stroke of half-time when full-back Lawrie Wilson burst into the area but Lance Cronin produced a superb save to deny him and Boylan skewed horribly wide from 10 yards immediately after the restart.

The Fleet were given hope when Neil Barrett bravely bundled in from close range - but it came at a cost as Barrett had to be stretchered off with a head injury after colliding with the keeper.

And Stacy Long pulled the Fleet level with 18 minutes to play when he lofted the ball home superbly.

However, Stevenage retook the lead with 11 minutes to play when David Ridges rose to head in Drury's corner - and Fleet boss Liam Daish was sent from the dugout in the aftermath.

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