GOMIS DOUBLE JUST NOT ENOUGH

EBBSFLEET UNITED chalked up their 300th victory in the top tier of NonLeague football, but Barrow, under the caretaker guidance of Neill Hornby, made them work hard for their win.

While Ebbsfleet crafted three good goals, they gifted two chances to Bedsente Gomis and the substitute punished sloppy defending on both occasions.

“From our point of view they were two poor goals to concede, but three very good goals from us,” said Fleet boss Daryl McMahon. “The two times we switched off we got punished. If we do that against Torquay on Tuesday we will get beaten.”

Great work by Danny Kedwell set up Aaron McLean for the Fleet’s opener, and he collected the ball with his back to goal before turning and volleying into the roof of the net.

The Bluebirds didn’t allow the goal to set them back, and were soon testing Fleet’s Nathan Ashmore with efforts from Alex-Ray Harvey and Asa Hall.

Swirling wind and driving rain was a factor in the game, and after an hour, Hornby changed his line-up, first introducing Adi Yussuf and then Gomis, who took only six minutes to pull Barrow level when he was allowed to roll the ball under Ashmore to finish of a sweeping move that left the Fleet defence in tatters.

The equaliser rocked Ebbsfleet, and they responded with two goals in three minutes; Jack Powell’s shot was parried by Joel Dixon but he could only put it into the path of Andy Drury who stroked it into the net, then Kedwell set up Powell to plunder his fourth goal of the season.

Barrow still had fight left in then and in time added on – Asa Hall forced Ashmore into a late save before Gomis bagged his second of the game with a shot drilled from the edge of the box.