Fleet resist Boreham Wood rally to clinch three points

Ebbsfleet held off a brave effort from the 10 men of Boreham Wood to claim a 2-1 Vanarama National League victory.

The hosts at Meadow Park were up against it from the start, with Femi Ilesanmi sent off inside three minutes for fouling Lawrie Wilson on the edge of the box to deny a goalscoring opportunity.

James Ball’s long-range strike and Gozie Ugwu’s unmarked header put Ebbsfleet 2-0 up with barely a quarter of an hour on the clock.

As they sought a decisive third early in the second half, John Goddard’s free-kick hit the crossbar and Ugwu had a goal disallowed for handball. The striker was then booked after he appeared to catch Tom Champion with an elbow.

Despite toiling – a man short – in temperatures which led to a first-half drinks break, Wood got themselves back into the game, first hitting the frame of the goal themselves before substitute Tyrone Marsh won and converted a penalty.

But despite a series of late corners, with goalkeeper David Gregory joining the attack, it was not to be as Fleet held out.