Aaron Cosgrave and Kwame Thomas rescued National League draw for bottom team

Ebbsfleet’s winless run on the bottom side extended to seven games despite a late comeback against fellow strugglers Wealdstone on Saturday.

With a third of the season already completed, Fleet are eight points from safety with just one National League win from 16 matches.

Despite scoring twice in the last four minutes, they may look back on it as a big missed opportunity.

Ebbsfleet made three changes from the team that lost 3-1 at Forest Green in midweek, with Wes Fongak, Franklin Domi and Rakeesh Bingham replacing Louis John, Jim Kellerman and Craig Tanner.

It meant the hosts had to field strikers Aaron Cosgrave and Dominic Poleon, with the former looking particularly lively in the early exchanges, which included one excellent run from the halfway line after just eight minutes, but his cross failed to find a team-mate. for what would be eavesdropping.

Tom Dallison missed Josh Wright’s free-kick before Franklin Domi took a three-on-three lead but Poleon’s shot was well blocked by Mason Barrett.

Wealdstone’s only try at the other end was Christian Scott firing wide from 25 yards in the 26th minute, but their cause was not helped when injuries forced Craig Eastmond and Barrett off the field in the first half.

The visitors made their third change at half-time and it was Ebbsfleet who started the second half better.

It took Cosgrave mere seconds to get his first shot on target, although his shot from 20 yards didn’t have enough power to trouble goalkeeper Sam Howes.

But Weldstone took the lead in the 57th minute. Max Kretschmar’s corner somehow found its way into the hands of Sam Ashford, who turned the ball home from a yard out.

The dynamic of the game changed and Weldstone took control as Fleet’s already fragile confidence took a serious hit.

A fine one-handed save from Cousins ​​denied Kretschmar a second in the 67th minute, but he was brought down three minutes later when former Fleet striker Alex Reid headed Jadin Mundle-Smith’s midfielder.

Ebbsfleet responded with a triple change that was already waiting in the wings before the second goal was scored: Tanner and Jefte Tanga were introduced along with Sha’mar Lawson.

They were given a lifeline four minutes from time when goalkeeper Hawes failed to catch Ben Chapman’s cross and Cosgrave turned the ball over for a goal that his efforts certainly justified.

There were only three minutes of stoppage time listed, but Ebbsfleet scored a dramatic equalizer in the first of those minutes when a corner found substitute Thomas and turned the ball home from close range.

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, Stewart, Dallison, Suare, Chapman, Fongak (Thomas, 61 mins), Wright, Domi (Tanga, 71 mins), Cosgrave, Bingham (Lawson, 71 mins), Poleon (Tanner, 71 mins). Subs not used: Berry, John, Wakeley.

Wealdstone: Hawes, Cook, Georgiou, Barrett (Mariappa 36′), Eastmond (Dyer 31′), Kretschmar (Obiero 73′), Scott (Boldewijn 46′), Ashford (Wells-Morrison 86′), Sesay, Reed, Mundle-Smith. Subs not used: Adams, Sundat.

Judge: Ross Martin.

Attendance: 1498.