Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: blustery
Goals:
Ebbsfleet: Moore 52'
United: McEvilly 45'

Ebbsfleet United:
Lance Cronin, Mark Ricketts, Paul McCarthy, Darius Charles, Sasha Opinel; Stacy Long, Jamie Hand, Neil Barratt, George Purcell (Kezie Ibe 85'); Michael Gash, Luke Moore.
Subs not used: Sam Mott, Craig Stone, Dean Pooley, Ricky Shakes.

Booked: Gash foul 17', Hand foul 27', Long dissent 27', Opinell foul 64', Ricketts dissent 71'

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Rory McAuley, Phil Bolland, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Robbie Willmott, Paul Carden (c), Jon Challinor, Chris Jones (Chris Holroyd 66'); Lee McEvilly, Mark Beesley.
Subs not used: Steven Drench, Danny Brown, Josh Coulson, Mark Convery

Booked: Beesley foul 28', McEvilly dissent 81', Bolland foul 88'
Red card: McAuley violent conduct 90'

Lee McEvilly's sixth goal of the season gave United the lead at Ebbsfleet and earned another point as teenager Rory McAuley's sterling debut was marred by his stoppage time red card.

Gary Brabin handed third year scholar Rory McAuley his debut at right back in place of Dan Gleeson (knee injury) while Swansea loanee Chris Jones started in place of Felino Jardim, who failed a fitness test on an ankle injury. Midfielder Danny Brown made the 16 for the first time this season following a summer operation on his shoulder.

Fleet boss Liam Daish made one change to the side that drew 1-1 with Oxford, calling Jamie Hand into the centre of midfield in place of the injured Craig Stone. Former U's striker Michael Gash started up front.

United kicked off into the teeth of a strong wind and Ebbsfleet made it clear from the opening moments that they would attack down the left through Sasha Opinel and George Purcell to put pressure on 18-year-old McAuley, while there were plenty of crunching early tackles.

Danny Potter was called into action for the first time when McAuley gave away a free kick on the left and Stacy Long curled it in, Potter claiming the ball confidently.

Michael Gash was warned for a foul on Challinor in the ninth minute, and with some agricultural tackles flying in the game struggled to get going, although Mark Beesley was denied an opening in the 13th minute when McCarthy made a great clearance from inside the area as the U's striker was about to pounce.

Having been warned earlier, Michael Gash was the first name in the referee's book in the 17th minute when he climbed all over Wayne Hatswell, and after another stop-start spell United went close in the 24th minute when Chris Jones' raking ball into the area was deflected over for a corner.

Referee Mr Hopkins took centre stage for a few minutes when Jamie Hand picked up the second booking on 27 for running into Hatswell and Stacy Long joined him for his protests, much to the home fans' derision. And when Mark Beesley challenged Charles seconds later, Liam Daish ran onto the pitch to wave an imaginary yellow card at Mr Hopkins and the official duly issued the card to the U's striker.

In that same spell, Rory McAuley made a thunderous but fair challenge on Long to clear the ball but the referee deemed it dangerous and awarded a free kick, and with the constant stoppages the action was stop-start and the home fans got increasingly restive.

A rare flowing move on 33 saw Fleet left back Opinel advance to flash a long-range shot over the bar and four minutes later Robbie Willmott picked out Chris Jones as he cut in from the left to flash a header just over the bar.

Mr Hopkins had relaxed his stranglehold on the game and the half ended with chances for both sides. A quick counterattack by Ebbsfleet on 39 saw Long lift a shot over the bar, and they went closest yet three minutes later when Hand's low 20-yarder shot flicked off Bolland's shin and flew inches wide of the post for a corner.

At the other end Lee McEvilly latched onto Potter's 44th minute long clearance, his initial header was half-cleared and Beesley's follow-up shot was deflected to McEvilly, but the big striker couldn't get a hurried long-range drive on target.

But he made no mistake in stoppage time with the final chance of the half. Robbie Willmott's inswinging corner was flicked on by Bolland to Lee McEvilly at the far post who tapped home his sixth goal of the season from six yards. Half-time 1-0

Second half:
United resumed brightly as Beesley raced onto Jon Challinor's excellent through ball, but he was chased all the way by a defender and his underpowered shot was smothered by Lance Cronin. Ebbsfleet responded with a chance of their own as Paul Carden made an uncharacteristic error and Michael Gash almost profited as the ball ran loose in the area, Tonkin making an important block to clear the danger.

Ebbsfleet levelled the score seven minutes into the half following good work by Neil Barrett who got the ball wide, cut in from the left and drew the rapidly advancing Potter before slipping the ball to Luke Moore who slid in to tuck the ball into the empty net.

Ebbsfleet's players and fans responded to the goal by raising their game and United had defending to do, while Beesley and McEvilly were caught out several times by the offside flag. There was a chance on 57 when Willmott's free kick was met by Hatswell but Purcell blocked his 20-yard drive, and five minutes later Beesley did well to keep the ball in play and pull it back for Jones but the Swansea loanee's shot was weak and easy for Cronin.

On 64 Robbie Willmott required brief attention on the pitch after being flattened by Opinel, who collected a yellow card, and two minutes later McAuley thought he had scored a debut goal after being put through by Carden but the flag was already up against Beesley and it didn't count.

Gary Brabin chose that moment to send on Chris Holroyd for Chris Jones, the former Chester striker taking up station on the left, and two minutes later Willmott released McEvilly who took on his marker and muscled his way into the area but his shot was parried by Cronin and Beesley's follow-up was blocked.

United maintained their pressure and good movement by Beesley led to another chance moments later but he lifted a powerful 20-yarder inches over the bar.

Ebbsfleet's card tally rose to five in the 71st minute for Ricketts' protests following the award of a free kick, and moments later a swift counterattack saw his team-mate Barrett rattle United's crossbar with a long-range strike from the left.

The home side were looking increasingly dangerous and on 74 Challinor's foul on Gash led to a dangerous free kick on the left of the area, which Long curled in, but it came off McEvilly and rolled past the far post.

Phil Bolland and opposite number Paul McCarthy both crashed to the ground after Bolland's brave headed clearance and Danny Potter ran to roll his motionless team-mate onto his side, but fortunately he was able to resume.

Another card was issued, this time a needless one to McEvilly for disputing the award of a free kick, and on 85 Ebbsfleet's Kezie Ibe replaced Purcell who had worked tirelessly down the right. With both sides pushing for a winning goal there were further half chances for both sides and another booking, this time for Bolland for a foul on Ibe, but Charles and McCarthy stood firm in the Fleet defence and their offside trap also thwarted the U's front line.

A good run from Ibe led to a corner that McEvilly headed away and deep in stoppage time Potter hesitated over a through ball into the area as Gash lurked and Tonkin made a vital block, but as the ball ran for the former United striker again this time Potter made a great save and although Barrett lunged at the rebound Tonkin made another good block.

Unfortunately the game ended on a disappointing note for Rory McAuley, who had made an excellent debut, but as stoppage time extended a full minute beyond the five indicated minutes, he threw himself into a two-footed challenge on Opinel and received a straight red card moments before the final whistle.

Match Summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"United overcame a slew of injuries to take a point from hard-to-beat Ebbsfleet. A unpredictable breeze and even worse match officials did little to help the match flow but United held firm against direct opposition and went ahead in first half stoppage time when Lee McEvilly got on the end of a well-worked corner. Luke Moore levelled early in a second half that was an improvement as a spectacle but not as a refereeing display. Mr Hopkins was to have the last word, sending off Rory McAuley deep in stoppage time for a two-footed lunge to mar an otherwise impressive debut."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Phil Bolland - another very solid performance at the heart of the defence in difficult conditions. Honourable mentions for the rest of the back four - Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin and Rory McAuley."

Ref: Mr Hopkins - If I'm getting fed up talking about referees, how must it be for the players and manager? He made sure he was the centre of attention and it would be a worry if he thought he had a good game, although he didn't have much choice over the red card. 2/10."

Referee: Mr. John Hopkins

Att: 1,832 (away 489)

Now talk about the match with fellow U's on our lively message board!

AT080902