EBBSFLEET snatched a narrow win in a tight game of very few chances against Wrexham at Stonebridge Road.

Fleet welcomed their win with open arms as it seemed the match was destined for a goalless draw.

The atmosphere around the ground from the kick-off was strangely subdued and the fans were left with little to cheer in a dreary first half.

Neither side started with any great impetus and goal scoring chances remained thin on the ground.

Ebbsfleet applied early pressure with a succession of corners but an early breakthrough never looked likely.

Michael Gash looked very imposing as the spearhead for Fleet’s attacks, but unfortunately he was substituted on 35 minutes after picking up an injury.

Kezie Ibe replaced the tall number nine, but he found it difficult to quickly get into the game.

Both defences looked solid and dictated the pattern of the game.

Wrexham’s towering striker Jefferson Louis remained ever-quiet and was nullified by the no-nonsense nature of Fleet centre-backs, Paul McCarthy and captain Darius Charles.

The teams went in at the break deadlocked but the tempo quickened from the restar.

Within a minute, Giussepe Sole came close with a well-struck 30-yard free-kick which just flashed over the bar.

However, the game quickly fell into the same rhythm of the first half and neither side looked to dominate for long spells.

On 63 minutes, Wrexham were presented with the best chance of the game when substitute striker Michael Proctor controlled the ball neatly in the box, cut inside his marker, and struck it with his left foot from 10 yards out.

Fleet keeper Lance Cronin was alert and parried the ball to safety..

Immediately, on the counter-attack, Ebbsfleet retained possession and forced their way into the Wrexham half.

The industrious Mark Ricketts collected possession in the final third of the pitch and burst past his marker.

Wrexham’s defence backed off and the Fleet midfielder went forward with speed and struck a left-footed shot from the edge of the box on the run.

His effort hit the underside of the bar and bounced down over the line, leaving Wrexham stopper Chris Maxwell helpless.

The goal came from nowhere and stunned the home fans into jubilation.

Wrexham showed far more determination in a bid to level the game, but the impressive Fleet defence was organised and gave away very little.

When Cronin was called into action, he was always alert and ready.

With 15 minutes to go, Ibe almost scored a wonder goal from 25 yards to put the game beyond reach, but his thunderbolt was tipped over for a corner.

The home side saw the game out comfortably and the nature of the win will satisfy manager Liam Daish, especially the ruthlessness of Charles in his commanding of the back line and a well-earned clean-sheet.

Ebbsfleet: Cronin, Stevens, McCarthy, Charles, Duncan (Pooley 67), Ricketts, West, Long, Sole (Yussuff 87), Gash (Ibe 36), Moore. Subs not used: Mott, Purcell. Att: 880.