Ebbsfleet United 1 Barrow AFC 0

Barrow AFC will have to go into their two-week break off the back of five straight defeats, after Danny Kedwell’s sucker-punch floored them at Ebbsfleet United.

This was a much improved performance from some of the disappointments the Bluebirds have served up in recent weeks, but despite dominating possession almost throughout, they couldn’t find a knockout blow of their own.

They badly missed Tyler Smith, who missed out with a tight hamstring, as well as the three other strikers they had unavailable through injury at Stonebridge Road, with the approach work not getting a finish it deserved.

If there is one positive to be had from the hiatus of matches for AFC, it’s that it represents a chance to finally get some bodies back for the visit of Eastleigh.

When that comes around, however, they simply have to turn the results around and work the opposition goalkeeper more than they were able to do in Kent.

Initially manager Ian Evatt made six changes from the team that capitulated in the second half at Harrogate, with goalkeeper Joel Dixon playing his first game of the season.

Erico Sousa and Luke Burgess both returned and Jack Hindle started up front in place of the injured Smith, while captain Josh Granite and Brian Wilson were named as centre backs.

However, Granite pulled up during the warm-up and had to be replaced in the line-up by Kyle Jameson. There was also a place on the bench for midfielder Christian Sloan, who signed first-team forms on Friday.

Dixon was called into action just over a minute into the game, with him pushing Chris Bush’s free kick over the bar.

Barrow’s injury-hit attack made a reasonable start, with Hindle’s low cross finding its way to Sousa, who dragged his effort wide before the same man shot over from long range, in an attempt to repeat his screamer at Bromley.

AFC were having the lion’s share of possession, with some smart play at a corner leading to Burgess playing in John Rooney down the right, but the midfielder could only shoot into the side netting.

Having gifted Harrogate an own goal four days ago, the Bluebirds almost benefitted from one, as Sousa’s low cross came off Sam Magri, with Fleet goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore reacting quickly to push the ball away.

Having played pretty well to this point, Barrow fell behind to a soft goal on 35 minutes, as Jameson’s slip from Bush’s long throw let in Kedwell, who passed his shot into the bottom corner.

Sousa really should have equalised four minutes before the break when he was found unmarked by Burgess’ cut-back, only to ping his shot straight at Ashmore from close range.

The Bluebirds could count themselves unlucky to be behind at half-time, but their deficit was almost doubled just before the hour mark when Whitely shot over after being allowed to cut inside.

The Bluebirds were forcing plenty of corners, with Wilson heading one of Rooney’s deliveries over at the near post, but Ashmore was not being worked enough.

However, their reaction to falling behind was a lot more positive than what they produced against Barnet last week and Evatt brought on Astley Mulholland, with his team still probing away.

Kedwell almost punished them for not making the most of their possession again when his cross-shot went wide after he did well to turn on the edge of the area.

The veteran striker did have the ball in the net again with seven minutes to go, but his effort was ruled out for a push on Jameson, with time now fast running out for the Bluebirds.

Rooney played a superb pass forward for Burgess, whose shot was deflected over, with the referee somehow missing the defender’s touch and awarding Ebbsfleet a goal kick.

There was then a fracas deep into stoppage time, as frustrations boiled over, which led to Jason Taylor, Hindle and Ashmore all being booked, and the final whistle was the only act that remained.

Ebbsfleet United (4-4-2): Ashmore, Magri, Winfield, Clark, Bush, Weston, Payne, Drury (Adams 48), Coulson (Wilson 90), Kedwell, Whitely (Shields 79)

Subs not used: Miles, McQueen

Barrow AFC (4-2-3-1): Dixon, Brown, Wilson, Jameson, Norrington-Davies, Rooney, Taylor, Sousa, Burgess, Kay (Mulholland 67), Hindle

Subs not used: Barthram, Sloan, Molyneux, Firth

Referee: Josh Smith

Attendance: 1,277