DARYL KEEPS HIS COOL BUT FLEET MOVE EVER CLOSER

IN-FORM Ebbsfleet United moved another step closer to the National League play-offs as they inflicted more misery on managerless Hartlepool.

Midfielder Dean Rance headed in the 17th-minute winner at Victoria Park to move Fleet to eighth in the table, level on points with seventh-placed AFC Fylde.

It was the Kent outfit’s fourth successive singlegoal victory on the spin but it could have been a landslide had they taken their opportunities.

Fleet had 14 attempts at goal in the first half alone, but despite their dominance, boss Daryl McMahon was simply happy to come away with three points to strengthen their promotion push.

“We played very well, particularly in the first half and I was disappointed not to be further ahead at half-time,” he said. “We had numerous chances, but we didn’t take them.

“At just one-up you run the risk of conceding from a set-piece or long throw, but we defended well.”

McMahon though played down talk of Fleet finishing in the play-offs.

“I think if we finish in the top 10 that will be a great achievement, there are a lot of big clubs in this division,” he said.

On their first ever visit to the Vic, Fleet flew out of the blocks and could have been in front inside 40 seconds – Corey Whitely clipping the post after being put clean through.

Home keeper Scott Loach did well to keep out efforts from Whitely and Luke Coulson but the pressure finally told on 17 minutes when Coulson sent over a good cross for the unmarked Rance to head past Loach.

Leading scorer Michael Woods blazed over for Pools following a corner but that was all Pools could muster. They did, however, make a better fist of it in the second half, forcing keeper Nathan Ashmore into a brilliant double save to deny Carl Magnay and Jake Cassidy on 56 minutes before Devante Rodney shot over the bar. While Pools huffed and puffed, they could not break down the Red door – much to caretaker boss Matthew Bates’ frustration. “It was almost two games in one,” said the ex-Middlesbrough defender who has been temporarily handed the reins following Craig Harrison’s midweek dismissal. “In the first half, we were very, very poor. “We played with greater intensity in the second half and on another day we may have come away with a point.”