Rushden 2 Ebbsfleet 0

Ebbsfleet were left to rue missed opportunities after somehow leaving Nene Park without at least a point to show for their efforts on Tuesday night.

The Fleet created plenty of chances but were beaten in the Blue Square Premier by two goals in the last half-hour from Sam Smith and Lee Phillips.

It could have been so different had home keeper Andy Marriott not denied Luke Moore as early as the first minute.

James Smith headed Stacy Long’s corner against the post as the Fleet continued to impress with a number of neat moves before Michael Gash and Neil Barrett both went close.

Andy Burgess had Rushden’s best opening of the first 45 minutes but was denied by the woodwork although it was the Fleet who went in at half-time feeling they should have been in front.

Gash failed to turn in a Barrett cross early in the second period and the Fleet were made to pay for their lack of goals just after the hour when substitute Smith, who had only been on the field for five minutes, scored from 25 yards beyond keeper Lance Cronin.

This gave Rushden the impetus they needed and Phillips, who had already wasted two openings, was not going to let a third go to waste as he nipped in to score on his debut for the home side with 13 minutes left.

A defensive error let in Gash late on but he failed to hit the target and the Fleet’s hopes went with it.