FLEET SHOW FIGHT, BUT WIN ELUDES THEM AGAIN

RELEGATION-threatened Ebbsfleet dominated much of second half in this clash with play-off chasing Oldham Athletic but, ultimately, had to settle for a point.

It was a much-improved display by the home side who were playing their first game since sacking manager Dennis Kutrieb on Monday.

Interim head coach Danny Searle, the former Aldershot boss, took temporary charge for the hosts and was pleased with what he saw from the side.

“The club’s been a little bit flat, everyone would accept that and they decided to make a change which is no detriment to the job that

Dennis did previously,” said Searle.

“It’s a different voice and philosophy slightly. We wanted to put some bounce and energy into the group and for them to show a good account of themselves – and I think we all agreed that they did that.

“If I’m honest Oldham go home feeling a bit lucky that they got the point that they did as we were definitely the better side, especially second half.”

James Norwood had the visitors’ best chance in either half. On 16 minutes, he latched onto a short back pass from his former Ipswich teammate Myles Kenlock and rounded keeper Mark Cousins, only to fire wide from an acute angle.

Then, just before the hour, Norwood went through again and forced a good save from Cousins under pressure from Luke O’Neill, injuring his hamstring in the meantime.

Ebbsfleet, as their interim coach suggested, played with much more energy and purpose and almost went in front when Omari Sterling-James’ early cross fell to Rakish Bingham but his shot then lacked power.

Searle’s men had their best chance just two minutes into the second half. An excellent move saw Ben Chapman combine with Kenlock, whose cross was met by the onrushing Toby Edser but keeper Matthew Hudson made a fine save with his leg.

That set the pattern for the majority of the second half with Ebbsfleet enjoying the upper hand. Edser was inventive, Ouss Cisse and Josh Wright controlled the midfield and Sterling-James was a direct threat.

All that was missing was the finishing touch. Oldham bodies were thrown in front of shots to deny Edser and Chapman – the former also shooting narrowly wide from 20 yards.

Oldham nearly snatched it at the death but centre-back Harrison McGahey was unable to direct a late header goalwards.

Boss Micky Mellon said: “We never passed it well enough at times. It’s always a difficult place to come. We had some good chances that would have changed the way the game went.“

“We want to create more. We had a couple of one-on-ones but we dug in and we know there’s a lot of improvements that still need to be made.”