Hartlepool United 0-1 Ebbsfleet United
- Published
Gozie Ugwu scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot as Ebbsfleet boosted their survival hopes and ended in-form Hartlepool's winning home run.
The visitors hit the crossbar in the first minute, with Ugwu agonisingly close to opening the scoring with a downward header.
Hartlepool responded, with Luke Molyneux's driven effort saved by Jordan Holmes and Gime Toure drilling a shot inches wide shortly afterwards.
Forward Molyneux thought he had scored on the stroke of half-time but his goal-bound header hit team-mate Aidan Keena and went wide.
Keena almost made amends in the 59th minute but his powerful header from Ryan Donaldson's cross was straight at the goalkeeper.
Molyneux and Toure both tested the keeper, but it was Ebbsfleet who broke the deadlock from the penalty spot after Josh Umerah was fouled by Toure and Ugwu scored.
Michael Timlin should have doubled the visitors' lead, while a fierce Donaldson strike cleared the crossbar at the other end.
Report supplied by PA Media.