Ebbsfleet United 2 Mansfield Town 1
By Steve Tervet
Ebbsfleet United collected three points at home for the first time this season as goals from Magno Vieira and Peter Holmes helped them to a 2-1 win over Mansfield Town.
The Fleet's goal drought, which had stretched back eight games, was finally broken as Liam Daish's side produced a fantastic display to thoroughly outplay their promotion-chasing guests.
Having failed to land a striker before Thursday's emergency loan deadline, Daish continued with Vieira alone up front, occasionally supported by Ricky Shakes.
The Fleet boss did hand a debut to Cyprus youth international Alex Stavrinou, the 19-year-old midfielder having signed on a one-month loan deal from Charlton Athletic. With Darius Charles suspended and Leon Crooks and Clint Easton injured, Will Salmon and Dean Pooley started in a reshuffled Ebbsfleet defence.
Mansfield's Jon Challinor, having scored on his Stags debut following a loan switch from Cambridge United, continued in central midfield but striker Lee Morris, another new arrival, had to make do with a place among the substitutes.
Having failed to score in the previous 720 minutes, the Fleet took just three to open the scoring. Shakes raced clear down the right wing and his cross was expertly volleyed past Alan Mariott by the onrushing Vieira at the near post.
Bair Sturrock had Mansfield's first sight of goal when he rose highest to meet a right-wing cross but Lance Cronin was able to watch the ball drop wide of his far post.
The equaliser arrived amid a storm of controversy in the 15th minute. Following Ross Smith's poor clearance, the ball dropped to Andy Burgess on the corner of the area and when his shot was charged down, referee Matty McLaughlin answered the Stags' claims for handball and pointed to the penalty spot.
Richard Duffy made no mistake with his spot-kick, stroking calmly past Cronin from 12 yards to restore parity.
Vieira and Duffy could both have added to their personal tallies as half-time neared - Vieira thwarted when he attempted to convert Peter Holmes' low centre and Smith flying in with a perfectly-timed tackle to deny Duffy at the other end.
The hosts came out after the break in determined fashion and once again Vieira went close to a second. Peter Holmes, overlapping down the right, cut the ball back and Vieira's near-post flick brushed the side netting with Marriott beaten.
With the pressure mounting, Ebbsfleet took a well-deserved lead in the 56th minute with a goal of real quality. Stavrinou's lofted pass was back-heeled in mid-air by Vieira and Holmes took a touch before drilling low beneath the body of Marriott from six yards.
The Stags were now rocking and despite the introduction of Morris and Louis Briscoe, Ebbsfleet looked increasingly likely to add a third. When Marriott skewed a clearance horribly, Michael West saw his chance to strike but could only shoot wide from 25 yards with the goal gaping.
As Mansfield threw men forward, gaps began to appear at the back at the Fleet posed a real threat on the counter-attack, with the pace of Shakes and the movement of Vieira a constant menace for David Holdsworth's side.
The home side had the perfect chance to wrap things up in the 85th minute when Vieira went down under the challenge of Burgess and for the second time in the match, McLaughlin awarded a penalty. However, Vieira's kick lacked power and Marriott, diving low to his left, was able to cling on and save.
Only Marriott's fingertips then denied Holmes as the Fleet skipper drilled a low shot towards the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Even in the dying seconds, Ebbsfleet continued to press and Mansfield's grandstand finish failed to materialise with the final whistle sparking joyous scenes around Stonebridge Road.
Ebbsfleet are back in action on Tuesday night when they host second-placed Stevenage Borough. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Attendance: 850
Ebbsfleet: Cronin, Heeroo, Smith, Pooley, Salmon, West, Stavrinou, Holmes, Bailey, Shakes, Vieira
Unused subs: Welsh, Wills, Read, Lamprell, Ginty
Mansfield: Marriott, Brough, Jones, Garner, Heckingbottom, Williams (Briscoe 58), Challinor, Somner (Armstrong 88), Burgess, Sturrock (Morris 54), Duffy
Unused subs: Eley, Silk
POSTED: 28/11/2009 16:59:53
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