WOOD RALLY BUT FLEET BAG POINTS

EBBSFLEET UNITED 3 BOREHAM King 5, Magri 22, Bush 52 WOOD 2 Murtagh 9, Ash 85

EBBSFLEET UNITED continued their march for a play-off spot with a battling and, at times, impressive win over struggling Boreham Wood.

Garry Hill’s men were good value for the points on a fierce and blustery day in Kent – although they had to see out a nervous last few minutes with only ten fit players on the park.

Fleet flew out of the blocks and were on their way with their first attack; Gozie Ugwu’s free-kick slammed against the post, and Jack King followed up to bury his shot.

But the lead didn’t last long, five minutes in fact – Keiran Murtagh rising comfortably to nod home from Charlie Cooper’s swirling corner.

The two sides continued to trade blows, with Fleet posing the heavier, and they took the lead again in the 22nd minute. Another corner – this time from Jack Payne – was met by a diving Charlie Magri at the back post.

Fleet were now dominating; Michael Cheek saw an effort fly wide and Magri also tested the palms of Ryan Huddart from distance. And they looked to have wrapped the game up after just five minutes of the second half when Huddart came to collect a free-kick, only to spill the ball into the path of Chris Bush, who slotted home.

With the game ambling along, Wood’s Mark Ricketts picked up his second yellow card in the space of two minutes after bringing down Lawrie Wilson, but Fleet were forced to dig deep with Wood pulling one back with four minutes to go when Bradley Ash slid the ball home from eight yards out.

STAR MAN: Sam Magri ATT: 1,110 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Alan Dale 7/10