For the second Saturday running Fleet more than contributed to an exciting high-scoring draw and were most unfortunate not to take all the points as it ended 2-2 against play-off chasers Altrincham.
Josh Wright only made the one change as Anthony Stewart returned after a spell on the sidelines to replace the injured Josh Passley while Altrincham were able to name former Maidstone forward Justin Amaluzor after getting his red card of Tuesday night rescinded.
There was an early shout for a penalty ifrom the Fleet fans in the Swanscombe End as a ball across the box appeared to bounce off the grass and catch Lewis Banks on the arm but referee Niall Smith was unimpressed.
Franklin Domi earned the first chance of the match for the Fleet three minutes later as he battled his way through and rode a foul to find himself in a shooting position but the end effort was off target.
A nervy moment came at the other end for Mark Cousins when he misplaced a pass right into the path of top scorer Regan Linney. The Robins’ danger man pounced on it but his shot didn’t get near the target and Cousins recovered well.
Aaron Cosgrave looked lively in the opening stages as he burst forward on several occasions and he wasn’t pleased to see a promising attack on the quarter-hour mark ended by the assistant referee for a supposed foul on Charlie Olson. Cosgrave had outpaced the Altrincham defender, got goalside of him but was then penalised as the visiting player went down.
The referee, newly promoted to National League level earlier this year, certainly made his mark in the match as he then awarded the visitors a penalty with the very next attack of the game. A long ball down the left found Linney who bundled Mustapha Olagunju off the ball and as the Fleet defeder tried to recover, Linney went over his outstretched leg and a penalty it was. Altrincham’s top goalscorer stepped up to take and made no mistake by sending Cousins the wrong way.
A fast-tempo affair saw a quick exchange of chances for both teams. Goalkeeper Caleb Ansen did well to collect Domi’s close-range header while Linney blazed a good sight of goal over at the other end.
The Fleet levelled the scores as Cosgrave bagged his seventh goal of the season just past the hour mark. He was penned into a tight space by two Altrincham men but he got himself and the ball out of it and a beautifully executed effort from the edge of the area slammed into the back of the net.
Confident and with a spring in their step, the Fleet were getting men forward quickly. Maxx Manktelow came close to a second for the home side but his volley was just over before George Moncur’s saw an effort deflected wide of the post with Manktelow trying to chase the loose ball down.
Kicking towards the Plough End fans in the second half, the Fleet began on the front foot. A dangerous cross by Aaron Bolger caused problems for Ansen who could do little more than concede a corner. Luke O’Neill eventually latched on to that delivery and his low shot was grabbed by the goalkeeper.
Altrincham took a while to settle but found their feet when Baines tried his luck from distance which Cousins tipped behind for a corner. Cousins was kept busy by the visitors in that spell and pulled off a double save from first Amaluzor and then Olson in quick succession.
The reds regained the upper hand and a neat crossfield ball from Manktelow picked out Ben Chapman on the right flank. He picked out Moncur at the far post who sent the ball back into the area and Cosgrave’s initial shot was cleared by Ansen who was helpless for Domi’s follow-up which was somehow cleared off the line by Baines.
But the deserved goal came from the resulting corner with Altrincham unable to clear their lines and Mustapha Olagunju reached highest to head the ball down and then stabbed it home from six yards to make it 2-1.
It could have been three when Fleet attacked with speed and some quick football saw Toby Edser feed Domi who was about to pull the trigger when Tylor Golden got back to deny him.
The Fleet looked good value for the lead but Altrincham found their way back into it seven minutes later as a swift counter upfield ended with Amaluzor tapping home the leveller.
Another penalty shout for the Fleet arrived on 86 minutes when O’Neill played substitute Dominic Poleon in behind the defence. He tried to find Bolger and as the defence cleared, it was handled as plain as day by Baines but the referee was oblivious.
Substitute Ryan Carr almost claimed the winner with yet another effort from the middle of the box and his shot was on target but haled by an acrobatic save by Ansen.
Altrincham escaped with a point but this was another really positive showing from the home side who go into Wednesday’s Kent Senior Cup Final unbeaten in four.
EUFC: Cousins, O’Neill, Manktelow, Stewart (Cundle 56), Olagunju, Chapman, Bolger, Edser, Moncur (Carr 80), Domi (Bingham 84), Cosgrave (Poleon 84). Subs: Anthony, Aoraha, Goddard
AFC: Ansen, Banks, Olson, Baines, Golden, Marriott (Wilson 69), Crawford, Kosylo (Dolan 69), Amaluzor, Newby, (Reddin 84), Linney (Weaver 80). Subs: Cooper, Osborne, Penney
Attendance: 1,173 (118 away)
Photos: ©EUFC | Dave Plumb/Ed Miller
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