EBBSFLEET extended their brilliant winning streak to three games with a hotly contested victory against Northwich Victoria.

In a game littered with hard tackles, late challenges and yellow cards, the team from Stonebridge Road let their football do the talking and deserved to win this game by more than one goal.

The first half started tentatively, with neither side committing too much or pressing forward in attack and the early minutes passed without event.

However, the best chance of the entire game for Northwich arrived after only eight minutes of play.

The Fleet defence was caught napping by a hopeful long ball, which Northwich striker Jonny Allen did well to control and take into the box.

He held off his marker and seemed to score, but incredibly shot wide from six-yards and the Fleet defenders breathed a collective sigh of relief.

It was a greatly needed shock to the home side and the solid-looking defence, expertly led by captain Darius Charles, conceded little from that point on.

Ebbsfleet midfielder John Martin started to dictate play in the centre of the field and looked calm in possession, starting many intricate moves and bringing attackers Michael Gash, Stacy Long and Ricky Shakes increasingly into the game.

The towering height of Northwich centre-back Matthew Bailey forced Fleet to play more into Gash’s feet and he seemed to relish the change of tactic.

Ebbsfleet had the majority of possession, but without any goals, both sides started to show signs of frustration.

The game erupted on 32 minutes when a late tackle by Shakes on a Northwich defender resulted in a 20-man ruck which saw five players booked.

No red cards were shown but the atmosphere around the ground was much hotter.

The tension carried through to half-time with both sides relieved at not conceding.

Ebbsfleet started the second half in a lively manner and Shakes, with his work-rate and pace, was a constant thorn in the Northwich side.

The second half was lively and resulted in more bookings, with Northwich earning five in all.

Bailey, in particular, was lucky not to receive a second yellow card for an atrocious foul on Gash.

Within 10 minutes of the restart, Daish made a telling substitution and brought on Guiseppe Sole to try and find a goal.

Martin continued to look dangerous from set-pieces and just past the hour mark, had a free-kick turned past the post by Northwich keeper Ryan Clark.

Fleet piled on pressure moments later and earned successive corners.

On 68 minutes, from the second corner, Martin curved a high, deep ball to the back post where James Smith was waiting unmarked.

Unopposed, he headed sweetly into the back of the net and gave the home side the goal which their possession and positive play deserved.

Northwich supplied no threat in attack and could not respond.

Cronin was hardly tested and the home side comfortably ran down the clock.

Daish’s men are riding high after three victories in the space of five days and will want to keep extending this winning streak to put those nagging relegation fears to bed once and for all.

Ebbsfleet United: Cronin, Crooks, Smith, McCarthy (Sole 59), Charles, Slatter, Martin, Ricketts, Long (West 80), Gash, Shakes. Subs not used: Mott, Opinel, Purcell. Att: 1,003