Ebbsfleet 1 Rushden and Diamonds 0

Neil Barrett scored the only goal of the game as Ebbsfleet ended their five-match losing streak with a 1-0 win over 10-man Rushden & Diamonds in the Blue Square Premier at Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

The Fleet went into the game looking for their first league win since the start of December when they beat Weymouth 1-0.

Manager Liam Daish handed new signings Derek Duncan and Leon Crooks an immediate place in his starting line-up at the expense of Mark Ricketts and Sacha Opinel.

The pair have joined the club from Wycombe with Duncan signing a deal until the end of the season and Crooks joining on an initial one-month loan deal.

The home side started brightly and came close to opening the scoring after four minutes when Jamie Hand saw his shot blocked by Rushden defender Chris Hope.

Rushden’s best chance came on 15 minutes when Osano Curtis put his header from Lee Tomlin’s corner straight into the hands of Lance Cronin.

Stacy Long fired just over on 19 minutes before Michael Gash saw another long range effort finish wide.

Luke Moore, who was a constant threat throughout, showed great vision to set up George Purcell on 28 minutes, but his shot finished just wide.

Ebbsfleet eventually made their pressure count on 41 minutes when Moore combined with Stacy Long. He crossed the ball into the path of Barrett who slotted home from close range.

In the second half, the visitors looked to find a way back into the game and almost pulled level on 55 minutes when Simon Downer headed just wide from Tomlin’s corner.

The Fleet continued to push forward in search of a second goal and it almost came on 73 minutes when Gash spotted Dale Roberts off his line, but his attempted lob finished just over the bar.

Rushden were reduced to 10 men on 83 minutes when Downer was shown a straight red card for a foul on Moore.

The foul sparked a massive touchline spat between Fleet manager Daish and his Rushden counterpart Gary Hill. Both managers had to be kept apart as the game descended into chaos.

When things eventually calmed down Daish and his assistant Alan Kimble were both sent to the stands by referee Gary Jerden, with Hill following shortly afterwards.

The fourth official then indicated seven minutes of additional time and substitute Ricky Shakes almost made the game safe, but his shot from inside the area was deflected wide for a corner.

Fleet: Cronin, Crooks, Smith, Stone, Gash, Long (Shakes 87), Barrett, Purcell, Moore, Hand, Duncan. Subs not used: Mott, Pooley, Slatter, Ibe.

Attendance: 1,121.

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