Hayes and Yeading 1-2 Ebbsfleet United

Hayes and Yeading United 1-2 Ebbsfleet United - Tuesday 26 November - Skrill South

Ebbsfleet United continued to rise up the Skrill South table with a victory at Hayes and Yeading thanks to a superb two-minute spell of devastating play.

The hosts took the lead in the first half through Jake Reid but second half substitute Stacy Long levelled before turning provider just a minute later.

The Fleet named the same side for the third match in a row while the hosts made four changes to the side that lost at home to Weston Super-Mare. Luke Williams, Geoff Mitchell, Tom Bird and Anthony Furlonge all returned to the starting line up and it was the hosts who begun the brighter as Williams sent a fizzing shot just over Preston Edwards' goal with a couple of minutes gone.

Dean Rance fired an effort wide for the Fleet before Hayes went close again. Edwards couldn't gather Williams' cross but luckily for the Fleet number one the ball bounced off Jake Reid and trickled wide for a goal kick.

Good work from Frankie Merrifield allowed Furlonge a sight of goal, albeit from a tight angle, and he drilled his effort wide of the goal. The hosts took the lead soon after though.

Furlonge managed to find some space down the right hand side. The full back broke into the Fleet area and crossed for Mitchell who hit against the woodwork. Fortunately for him, Reid was there to smash home from eight yards out to give Hayes a well deserved one goal lead.

Mitchell was making a nuisance of himself and nearly got his reward just before half-time. The big striker pressured Paul Lorraine into making a dodgy back pass, but the captain was spared when his left footed effort went wide of the goal.

The Fleet could probably count themselves a little lucky to only be one down at half-time, but they took full advantage of it in the second half.

The visitors upped their game in the second half and had a good chance just five minutes in. Michael Thalassitis picked up the ball 25 yards out, took a touch and unleashed a venomous swerving effort which Jamie Young could only chest away to Alex Osborn. The young striker's tame effort was easily picked up by Young.

Daryl McMahon, who wasn't having the best of games, hit a nice ball through for sub Billy Bricknell to run on to, however the striker lost his balance and could only fire wide under pressure from Man of the Match Adam Everitt. Thalassitis forced the save of the match soon after when a quickly taken throw in put him through on goal, Young got down well to save though.

Bricknell came so close to levelling things up on 75 minutes from Chris Sessegnon's cut back, although the striker could only scoop the ball over from ten yards out. The equalising goal came just four minutes later.

Stacy Long, who had only been on the pitch for four minutes, blocked a goal bound Anthony Cook effort. The influential midfielder took one touch, turned and fired low into the net, leaving the keeper little chance.

Fleet fans had been crying out for Long to come on for the majority of the second half and he came up trumps when it mattered. Just two minutes later, the Fleet were awarded a free-kick when Cook was bundled over. Long sent over the free-kick and Lorraine, on his 150^th game in Fleet colours, sent the ball into the net. Unfortunately for the centre back the ball struck Mitchell on it's way through and went down as an own goal.

It should have been three a couple of minutes later when Young sliced his clearance. Bricknell raced onto it but his weak left footed effort gave Young time to get into position and save low down to his right.

Hayes pressed with four minutes of added time, but to avail. The Fleet had won again and moved up to third in the Skrill South table. Hayes dropped down a place to seventh.

Both sides are at home in the FA Trophy on Saturday. Hayes host Skrill Premier outfit Barnet looking to cause a shock while Gloucester City travel to Stonebridge Road looking to cause a shock of their own.

Hayes: Young, Furlonge, Everitt, Harriott, Wassmer, Inman, Mitchell, Merrifield, Reid (Mills), Williams (Dennis), Bird (Soares). Subs not used: Jaimez-Ruiz, English.

Fleet: Edwards, Sessegnon, Sankofa, Lorraine, Palmer, Osborn (Corcoran), McMahon (Long), Rance, Cook, May (Bricknell), Thalassitis. Subs not used: Hall, Howe.

Attendance: 139.