Ebbsfleet United were denied three points by a hugely controversial penalty in added time after Noah Coppin went to ground far too easily in the 95th minute yet was rewarded with a spot-kick that he stepped up to equalise Dom Samuel’s own 12-yard conversion.

A slow start to the match saw the only real threat in the opening 10 minutes come from the visitors when Charlie Seaman’s curling effort was gathered by goalkeeper Will Buse. 

Ben Coker whipped in a delivery from a corner kick but Buse once again was able to gather that chance comfortably. 

The closest opportunity for the hosts before the half hour mark came when a tight-angled shot from Josh Hedges looked to clip the inside of the post but he dragged that effort wide.

With under 10 minutes of the first-half remaining, Fleet fans thought their side had their noses in front when Josh Passley did well to beat his man on the right. He placed a low ball into the path of Toby Edser who got his shot on target but Buse palmed it clear.

Early chances came in the second-half as both Edser and Ben Chapman fired off efforts but Buse was able to see those over the bar.

The deadlock was broken on 54 minutes, however, and it was Edser who won the opportunity as he was fouled in the area by Richard McIntyre and the referee immediately pointed to the spot with little protest from the Salisbury players. Samuel stepped up and made no mistake for the Fleet’s first goal from the penalty spot this season.

Moments later Matt Hall pulled off a spectacular save to tip the ball over the bar following a long-range strike from Mo Dabre before the Fleet came close once again but neither Samuel or Max Ehmer could connect with a low Seaman cross. The ball did fall to Edser but his volley went left of the post.

Salisbury stepped up a gear late on with a number of shots off target and they found the Fleet back line strong in the tackle and quick to block.

But just as the game looked done and dusted, the referee – having booked Edser for simulation earlier in the game – was blind to any simulation in the build-up to Passley and Coppin coming together and a penalty it was. Hall guessed the right way for Coppin’s kick but it made the back of the net anyway and the Whites made off with the late point.

EUFC: Hall, Passley, Ehmer, Nelson, Coker, Seaman, Hessenthaler, Kennedy, Edser, Chapman (Coley 75), Samuel (Cosgrave 75).

Subs: Appiah, Fielding, Barnes, Manktelow, Sandford

SFC: Buse, Morgan, Revan, Gbadebo, Ogunleye, McIntyre, Dabre, Coppin, Keeya (Bray xx), Hedges, Odokonyero (Landa 85).

Subs: Gunstone, Gray, Willard, Grubb, Lewis, Joliffe

Attendance: 860

Photos: © EUFC/Tom Harris