Ebbsfleet United

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Ricky Shakes

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Ebbsfleet United 2-1 Grays Athletic

Ebbsfleet jumped above Grays Athletic into 22nd place in the Blue Square Premier with their 2-1 Boxing Day victory over their relegation rivals.

Magno Vieira opened the scoring for the home side with Ryan James grabbing a first half equaliser. Ricky Shakes then popped up with his first goal of the season to help his side claim a vital three points.

Vieira did expertly to create time and space for himself to fire home the first goal of the game after just 10 minutes.

Leon Crooks' long ball forward was latched onto by Vieira, who made as if to shoot before rounding defender Gavin Hoyte and steadying himself to unleash a fantastic shot past Preston Edwards.

Ebbsfleet continued to create chances with Stefan Bailey coming close with a header before Shakes nearly latched onto a Ishmael Welsh cross.

But with half and hour gone, Grays found themselves back in the game after a defensive error by the home side.

Crooks failed to clear a long ball forward, allowing James to run through on goal before curling a well-placed shot past Lance Cronin in the Fleet goal.

The goal reinvigorated the away side, who continued to press even after the half-time break with Ebbsfleet struggling to create any real chances for much of the opening period.

Darius Charles came close after he latched onto a Peter Holmes corner on 63 minutes but Edwards did well to turn the effort round the post.

Cronin then did brilliantly to deny Grays substitute Fola Onibuje from scoring with his first touch, which proved to be something of a match saver as four minutes later, Shakes found a winning goal.

Shakes forced his way through three defenders into the box and finished well past an onrushing Edwards when it looked like he had overrun the ball and lost his footing.

Cronin then made sure of the points when he denied Richard Graham, who looked odds on to score.

Ebbsfleet United bookings: Vieira

Grays Athletic bookings: Dean, Bunce

Att: 937

Ref: S Long