EBBSFLEET 3 TAMWORTH 0

TAMWORTH slipped to a sixth league defeat in seven on Tuesday but this was a harsh score-line on a side in need of a confidence boost, writes Dave Clayton.

It was a disppointing evening as Marcus Law's men could have come back from Essex with at least a point, if not all three, if only they hadn't left their collective shooting boots in Staffordshire.

They also missed a penalty.

Regular and close followers of the Lambs line-ups will know that manager Law likes to mix things up each game.

The norm is for a change or two from the previous starting XI by the time the next match comes around.

However, at Stonebridge Road, Law was forced to make five changes to his side thanks in no small part to an increasing injury list, some minor and some major, plus a suspension to Richard Tait.

There were two new faces on show and Birmingham City loanee Luke Hubbins played superbly on his debut in midfield before his night was cut short by injury.

The first half was a frustrating affair and one that saw Tamworth survive a number of close calls.

Jonathon Hedge, replacing Joe Collister after four games on the sidelines, was alert when he needed to be in goal.

On more than one occasion, space around Lambs left back Connor Gudger was exploited by the tricky Nathan Pinney.

However, his teammates Liam Enver-Marum and Michael West found it difficult to break through the partnership of Paul Green and Francino Francis or simply missed the target when well placed.

And that was the pattern of play for much of the first half – Tamworth would try and attack but were not able to do what mattered when the ball got into the danger area.

And Ebbsfleet would fail to finish their chances too.

It was Tamworth who had the best chance of the half to open the scoring in the 38th minute.

Kyle Patterson made headway down the left channel into the penalty area.

He found Nabil Shariff whose close-range shot was well saved by Preston Edwards but the referee had spotted a foul on Patterson and duly awarded the Lambs striker a spot-kick.

The chance to put his side one up away from home on a cold damp Tuesday night was missed though as Patterson saw his spot-kick blocked by Edwards.

Tamworth started the second half well and Hubbins made a strong run to the edge of the area and looked odds on to test the home keeper but screwed his effort wide and again the chance was gone.

Then, with the bit between their teeth, the Lambs tried again and Patterson saw another shot come back off the keeper.

Shariff was unable to make the rebound count against Liam Daish's side.

With Tamworth pressing from a corner, Ebbsfleet broke quickly and West fed Enver-Marum who slotted home from 18 yards with nine minutes gone in the second half.

Six minutes later, a similar move by Ebbsfleet brought them their second.

Following a sustained period of Tamworth pressure, Ebbsfleet launched a quick break up field and this time Pinney took full advantage to put his name on the scoresheet.

United could have extended their lead and eventually did so as Pinney bagged his brace courtesy of a bouncing diagonal strike which left Hedge flat-footed.

Had substitute Lanre Azeez not missed a sitter in added time, it would have only compounded an already disappointing score-line.

Ebbsfleet: Edwards, Stone, Lorraine, Mambo, West (Adams 90), Marwa (Barrett 10), Willock (Azeez 78), Phipp, Howe, Enver-Marum, Pinney. Subs not used: McNeil, Stavrinou.

Tamworth: Hedge, Courtney, Francis, McDonald, Patterson (Headley 80), Green, Gudger, Isaac, Shariff, McKoy, Hubbins (Thomas 63). Subs not used: Oji, Reynolds, Collister.

Attendance: 746.

Herald Star Man: Luke Hubbins - bright debut until curtailed by injury