Duff relief as Robins hang on for replay

IT’S now 10 games without a win for Cheltenham after they were held to a goalless draw by National League side Ebbsfleet.

The Robins didn’t manage a shot on target until the 88th minute and that was an ambitious strike from Chris Clements which Nathan Ashmore saved easily.

Cheltenham boss Michael Duff said: “It was a 0-0 game and I thought it was a fair result.

“We weren’t good enough in the first half. We didn’t compete, didn’t pass the ball and if we were playing against a better team we’d definitely have been losing the game at half-time.

“We were slightly better in the second half. The play was in their half, but we lacked quality and didn’t look like threatening the goal.

“We didn’t hurt them and they didn’t hurt us.”

Duff ’s opposite number, Garry Hill, was taking charge of Ebbsfleet for the first time.

He saw Myles Weston set up good chances for Luke Coulson and Danny Kedwell as Fleet won the midfield battle and dominated the first half.

Cheltenham lost captain Johnny Mullins to injury midway through the half after an aerial collision with Kedwell.

Cheltenham’s passing was dreadful at times and Duff sent his players out early for the second half.

The visitors did improve, but still they were wasteful in possession and Kenny Clark should have won it for the non-league side with a late header which dropped wide. Hill said “I asked for work-rate and commitment for 90 minutes and I got that.

“We were the better side in the first half by a long way, but we lacked quality in the final third.

“Myles Weston caused them a lot of problems down the right, but it didn’t quite go for us.

“At the start of the second half they got in the game, grew in confidence and started to dictate possession.

“But we made changes and started to get back on top.

“You hope you’ll get a chance which could be the winner and we had that great chance.

“Kenny was disappointed. The most important thing, though, is to be in the draw for the next round.”