FLEET JUST TOO COLD FOR HAWKS’ HOT START!
HAVANT took maximum points from a breath-taking affair at Stonebridge Road as two title contenders went head-to-head.
Two goals in the first six minutes put them in the driving seat as Ebbsfleet were caught cold. Sido Jombati’s untimely slip saw Tommy Wright latch onto Josh Passley’s perfectly-weighted through ball inside two minutes before slotting the ball past keeper Josh Gould.
Havant were in dreamland just four minutes later when Wright’s close-range header came off the crossbar and Rendell converted at the far post.
Wright nearly added a third when Gould kept out his nearpost attempt as Havant’s high press didn’t allow Ebbsfleet time to settle.
Passley was particularly impressive at right wing-back, joining the attack at every opportunity, while towering centre-back Manny Adebowale repelled everything Fleet could muster in the opening half-hour.
One excellent Ben Chapman attempt aside, Ebbsfleet didn’t really get going until just before half-time.
Alfie Egan’s shot was turned behind by keeper Ross Worner and Chapman was thwarted by Joe Newton before Ebbsfleet pulled a goal back.
Greg Cundle delivered his cross into Dominic Poleon, who set up skipper Lee Martin and he was able to curl a delightful 20-yard right-foot shot beyond
Worner to drag his side back into the contest.
It set up an enthralling second half. Worner did well to thwart Martin before another Passley charge down the right saw Wright head narrowly over.
Egan again burst into the box midway through the half but was denied by another smart Worner save.
Ebbsfleet introduced Rakish Bingham and Elliott Romain to their attack. Bingham turned Chapman’s near-post cross just wide before the Fleet striker somehow saw his goalbound attempt diverted wide by Romain after good work by Martin.
At the other end, Havant nearly scored a third on the break through substitute James Roberts before he was upended by Chris Solly just outside the box, and they had claims for a penalty waved away as Joe Martin got back to make a last-ditch
tackle inside the area.
Havant player-coach Jamie Collins said: “We’ve been working a lot on shape this week, they try and play out from the back and are very good at it.
“We tried to combat that and stop them playing through the thirds, to go two-nil up so early was the ideal start.”
Ebbsfleet manager Dennis Kutrieb admitted: “It’s tough to take as we played a good game, the boys fought as a team but in a big game you can’t sleep in the first 10 minutes.”