LIAM Daish’s Fleet suffered yet more late heartbreak when they were denied victory by Jon Shaw’s injury time equaliser for Crawley last night.

The game exploded from the kick-off and Ebbsfleet were on the receiving end of a bombardment of long balls and dangerous Crawley attacks inside the first few minutes.

Crawley stamped their authority on the game as early as the third minute when a deep free-kick was headed down in the box and finished coolly by the giant number nine Rob Matthews.

Fleet had a lucky escape one minute later when Crawley hit the post and again caught the hosts napping.

The early goal, and this dangerous chance, helped to awaken the sleeping Fleet and in particular Gash and Sole, who both started to make their impact on the game.

Sole showed great technique and skill with two deft dribbles through the Crawley defence, while Gash, as ever, challenged for every header and worked tirelessly.

On 10 minutes, Crawley pushed men forward after being awarded a free-kick but Ebbsfleet counter-attacked with Gash playing a perfect through ball for Long to collect inside the box and finish calmly to Crawley keeper Simon Rayner’s bottom right.

After 16 minutes, Ebbsfleet's sustained pressure saw them go 2-1 up.

It was a dream goal by Gash as he found space on the edge of the box when a long cross came over from the left and cleared the Crawley defence.

Gash controlled instantly on his thigh and lashed a quick half-volley into the top left corner.

Ebbsfleet finished the first half strongly to the annoyance of Crawley manager Steve Evans, who was sent off by the referee for dissent just before the break.

Fleet continued their dominance in the second half and within two minutes of the restart Guiseppe Sole scored a wonderful 25 yard free-kick, directing it perfectly into the top left corner.

Crawley responded quickly and Adam Quinn equalised with a scrappy goal in the box.

The game was played at a relentless pace with both sides chasing the decisive goal.

Fleet thought they had got it on the hour when Ricky Shakes scored from a well-worked short corner.

Some dogged possession and a series of long balls by Crawley saw Jon-Paul Pittman score a powerful volley with five minutes to go, a strike which forced Ebbsfleet on the defensive.

The final minutes were exciting and Crawley pushed for the equaliser, which duly arrived in injury time.

Another scrappy goal in the box was finished by substitute Shaw and the handful of Crawley fans erupted.

Fleet were punished by a lack of concentration in the crucial parts of the game.

However, some solace can be taken from Gash's man-of-the-match performance and Sole's confident start.

Ebbsfleet: Cronin, Crooks, Smith, Stone, Gash, Long, Barrett, Sole, Shakes (Pooley 89), Hand, Duncan. Subs not used: Purcell, Ibe, Judge, Ricketts. Att: 795.