Ebbsfleet United 2 Wealdstone 2 match report: Aaron Cosgrave and Kwame Thomas rescue National League draw for bottom side
16:45, 26 October 2024
updated: 21:12, 26 October 2024
Bottom side Ebbsfleet’s winless run extended to seven games despite a late fightback against fellow strugglers Wealdstone on Saturday.
With a third of the season now completed, the Fleet are eight points from safety having bagged just one National League win in 16 matches.
Despite scoring twice in the last four minutes, they may look back at this one as a big opportunity missed.
Ebbsfleet made three changes from the side that lost 3-1 at Forest Green in midweek as Wes Fonguck, Franklin Domi and Rakish Bingham replaced Louis John, Jim Kellermann and Craig Tanner.
It meant a front two of Aaron Cosgrave and Dominic Poleon for the hosts, the former looking particularly lively in the early exchanges which included one excellent run from near the halfway line after just eight minutes, but his cross failed to pick out a team-mate for what would have been a tap-in.
Tom Dallison was unable to get a Josh Wright free-kick on target before Franklin Domi led a three-on-three break but Poleon’s shot was well blocked by Mason Barrett.
Wealdstone’s only effort at the other end saw Christian Scott shoot wide from 25 yards on 26 minutes but their cause was not helped when injury forced off both Craig Eastmond and Barrett in the first half.
The visitors made a third change at the break and it was Ebbsfleet who started the better in the second half. It took a matter of seconds for Cosgrave to have the first shot on target, although his 20-yard effort lacked enough power to trouble keeper Sam Howes.
But it was Wealdstone who went ahead on 57 minutes. Max Kretzschmar’s corner somehow found its way to Sam Ashford, who turned the ball home from a yard out.
The momentum of the game shifted and Wealdstone took control as Fleet’s already fragile confidence suffered a major dent.
An excellent one-handed save from Cousins denied Kretzschmar a second on 67 minutes but he was beaten three minutes later when former Fleet forward Alex Reid headed in a Jadyn Mundle-Smith centre.
Ebbsfleet responded with a triple change, that was already waiting to be made before the second goal went in, with Tanner and Jephte Tanga introduced alongside Sha’mar Lawson.
They were handed a lifeline with four minutes left when keeper Howes failed to collect Ben Chapman’s cross and Cosgrave turned the ball in for a goal his efforts certainly warranted.
Only three minutes of stoppage time were indicated - when it should have been much more - but Ebbsfleet dramatically equalised in the first of those minutes. Thomas’ first effort from a right-wing corner came back to the tall striker, who turned the ball in from close range.
Ebbsfleet: Cousins, Stewart, Dallison, Souare, Chapman, Fonguck (Thomas 61mins), Wright, Domi (Tanga 71mins), Cosgrave, Bingham (Lawson 71mins), Poleon (Tanner 71mins). Subs not used: Berry, John, Wakely.
Wealdstone: Howes, Cook, Georgiou, Barrett (Mariappa 36mins), Eastmond (Dyer 31mins), Kretzschmar (Obiero 73mins), Scott (Boldewijn 46mins), Ashford (Wells-Morrison 86mins), Cesay, Reid, Mundle-Smith. Subs not used: Adams, Sandat.
Referee: Ross Martin.
Attendance: 1,498.