Altrincham

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Ricky Shakes

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Ebbsfleet 1-0 Altrincham

Ebbsfleet United boosted their chances of survival with a hard-fought victory against Altrincham at Stonebridge Road on Tuesday evening.

The Fleet took the initiative with an early goal which proved to be enough to help lift them out of the relegation places.

The hosts made their intentions known virtually from kick-off when Ricky Shakes beat his man on the wing and sent in a cross for Luke Moore, but the striker's shot from six yards ballooned over the crossbar.

However, Shakes took matters into this own hands in the sixth minute when he met Michael Gash's cross with a header that flew into the bottom-right corner.

Altrincham almost drew level on 10 minutes when Colin Little found himself in the box with time and space but he blasted his effort high and wide with Ebbsfleet goalkeeper Lance Cronin stranded in no-man's land.

Ebbsfleet were celebrating a second goal in the 22nd minute when Moore's header bounce in off the woodwork, but the referee subsequently blew the whistle for offside.

The Robins forced Cronin into a diving save on the half-hour mark when Warren Peyton struck a low drive through a crowded box.

However, Altrincham will be left rueing their lack of cutting edge as they squandered a number of chances to draw level.

In the end, Liam Daish's side held onto their slender advantage to collect all three points and give their supporters reason to celebrate.

Ebbsfleet bookings: McCarthy.

Altrincham bookings: Doughty, Danylyk.

Ref: A.E Rayner (Loughborough).

Att: 774.