FLEET ARE SAVED BY BRADLEY AT DEATH SAVED BY AT DEATH
DESPITE Hampton having striker Duncan Culley dismissed just before the interval, it took titlechasing Ebbsfleet until the 90th minute to grab a point through Bradley Bubb.
Fleet manager Daryl McMahon admitted that he was a relieved man.
He told The NLP: “That was a huge goal from Bradley [Bubb] there at the end as this is a tough place to come. We weren’t on our game today and the goal we conceded was poor, but Hampton worked really hard after their sending off.”
Hampton manager Alan Dowson, although disappointed at not being able to hold on for the win, was proud of his team.
“The boys battled really well and they gave everything out there,” he said. “I cannot fault the effort they put in.”
A tight first half showed that both sides knew how big the game was, the only chance of note coming to Hampton when a cross was tipped over by keeper Nathan Ashmore.
Just before the break, Hampton’s Culley, having been booked a few minutes previously for a soft challenge, went into another challenge with Ashmore with a high foot, the referee showing him a second yellow card.
Early in the second half, Hampton looked the more threatening, despite being a man light and on the hour they took the lead against the run of play.
Midfielder Harold Odametey showed persistence in chasing the ball down and managed to get a yard clear of the defence on the edge of the box, lobbing the ball neatly over Ashmore and into the net.
Five minutes later the Fleet were awarded a penalty for a trip on Anthony Cook just inside the box as the defender looked to turn.
Danny Kedwell stepped up, but his attempt was read by Hampton keeper Sam Howes, who tipped it past the post.
Howes was called on again with five minutes left, having to make a double save to deny the Fleet a goal as Hampton defended deep, leaving only striker Shamir Mullings up front.
However, with 90 minutes almost up, Ebbsfleet got their equaliser.
A defensive clearance went straight up in the air, Bubb was underneath and with neat control, turned and fired past Howes and into the net, giving the visitors a point that they had scarcely earned.